Rhubarb going to seed

[brittsyank]

I have 3 rhubarb crowns in their 3rd year that were grown from seed. One is definitely going to seed, the other 2 look like they may do the same.
Any ideas out there. I have remove the flowering stalk, are the plants worth keeping? ???

[brittsyank]

[saddad]

Yes... mine are always doing that..
Welcome to the site Brittsyank,  :)

[Tee Gee]

I'm not sure here;  ???

Did your plants die back from last year?

Are they under cover?

My rhubarb is just peeping through which I would expect at this time of year.

Can you give us some information on them since you sowed them e.g location in country, location on allotment, did you pick any last year, if so how much.

OK I live next to the rhubarb triangle where they grow their rhubarb in permanent darkness and pick it by candle light so I could imagine crowns going to seed in these conditions at this time of year, but not outdoors..............I await your reply!

[brittsyank]

I live in Essex. The seeds were sown in pots and transplanted on my allotment summer 2007. I have not picked any stalks at all and the plants died back last year. each plant has 6 or 7 small leaves and have been growing for the last 4 weeks.
The neighbouring allotment has rhubarb that is pickable(stalks a foot long).

[saddad]

They always die back over winter.. is it getting enough water? Once they get their roots out they are fine but it is possible that the roots are stuck in the pot compost and haven't ventured out into the surrounding soil... is it clay or sand?   :)

[Tee Gee]

As we say up here in the wide and wooly north.............you lot are a coat warmer than us.............so you get off to a better start.

Sounds as if you crowns are in a good spot


My suggestion; Cut back the seeding stems to the crown, leave the rest.

[brittsyank]

Thanks will do.
Yes the soil is clay ::)sometimes that's good, the soil is still a bit sticky though.

[gwynleg]

how did you know that your plant was going to seed brittsyank? I think that mine is flowering (I commented to another lottie holder on how pretty the red buds were and he said......), is  that the same thing?

So is the next step to take off the buds and then look after it really well (feed and water as its near to tree roots I think)?
Thanks - hope its ok to highjack your thread....

[Tee Gee]

how pretty the red buds were

When it is running to seed you don't have these.

I think you are getting confused with new emerging growth see the two areas of new growth to the right in this picture;

[gwynleg]

[
When it is running to seed you don't have these.

I think you are getting confused with new emerging growth see the two areas of new growth to the right in this picture;

Thanks v much TeeGee - v helpful - was near to chopping them off - that would not have been a good idea!

[Robert_Brenchley]

The flower buds don't appear until the leaves are well grown in early summer. Time to pull them off then.

[Squash64]

I've noticed that while my rhubarb is over a foot tall now and shows no sign of flowering, my neighbour's is only just starting to grow but has flower buds on already.   It's the same every year, so I wonder if it's just something that certain plants/varieties do?