rhubarb

[caseylee]

My rhubard is approx 2 years old.  The only thing is it is growing but the stems are just so small and thin.  I have got it in a nice raised bed on its own, lots of sunlight and water but it never seems to get bigger.  I did have it in a very large pot at first, and moved it to a raised bed.  What can I do to help it grow, I am dying to have fresh rhubard.

[caseylee]

[daileg]

give it some manure old rotten they love it did you have it in doors in your greenhouse over winter or did the frost have ago because the frost is good for em i allways leave out the ground from nov to jan then cover in manure and wait for spring im having second crop this year now in south wales your in the same weather zone to me caseylee should be ok .

[caseylee]

It stays outside all year long, I think this year its not going to procude, will get some good manure and give it a good feed and see if it improves.  I just left it last year, but should I cut is down to the soil this year or does its leaves just die, I can't remember

[jennym]

Some varieties of rhubarb do have thinner stems than others, it's just part of their nature. I grow quite a few different types, some that I know the variety of, some I don't. Timperley Early has thin stems and is one of the first to come up. I also grow Victoria and Stockbridge Arrow - the Victoria has thick long stems, the Stockbridge Arrow seems to have slightly shorter stems, but still thick, but they are slightly ridged.

[caseylee]

mine are very thin and approx 30 cm long would that be right. and can I use them

[shirlton]

Ours hasn't been so good this year

[saddad]

Yes you can use them Casey but if they are spindly it's probably best to let the plant build up the roots... all you pick removes goodness from the plant.  :-\