Think I buggered up the rhubarb division

[antipodes]

I wanted to try dividing my rhubarb. I had understood that the method was to stick the spade near a bud and break off that part of the crown.  Well, two largish pieces broke off it, so I planted them. However I have just looked at some pictures and saw that the pieces should be mostly root. I am not sure if there was any root to speak of on there or not. have I just broken off the buds? Will they grow? Or do I need to go back and dig out the whole crown and replant the whole caboodle in several pieces?

[antipodes]

[goodlife]

No worries...If there is growing bud attached into orange/yellow coloured chunk of root all should be well..
Rhubarb is actually quite bugger to get killed ::)..particularly if it is established clump..so if this transplanting didn't work there will be plenty of new bits popping up that you thougt were all dug out...
Ideally you would dig good size clump from edge of the old crown with couple of growing buds on it...there is not really any fiberous roots to see...

[caroline7758]

That's encouraging- I did the same this morning and realised I hadn't got a clue what I was doing! Want to give a plant to a friend but I think I'll put it in a pot and make sure it's survived my mauling before I pass it on! I found some of my plants were hollow in the middle and full of woodlice.

[Deb P]

Woodlice love rhubarb, I divided mine last year and found loads in the hollowed out old stems. I agree it's pretty indestructable, I hacked mine to bits with an old breadknife, and even the smallest bits re-grew. Give them plenty of muck and they will soon be a-sprouting again! ;D

[grawrc]

I noticed the stuff I split up last year is coming up rosy pink and beautiful! I'll need to lift the rest and see if I can get it that good next year!

[macmac]

I think rhubarb is pretty hardy stuff,we took several years to dig a couple of plants OUT.They just kept coming back : :o

[kt.]

Best way I've found to split rhubarb is to put 2 spades back to back into the middle of the crown, in the ground to the depth of the spade head, then pull the spades apart.  This will force the crown to split.   Leave half in situ and move the other half to its new location.  Give a feed of well rotted manure to aid recovery for a fuller harvest.

[antipodes]

Ah yeah ktlawson, that is what I thought I had done! SO when a couple of little bits just fell out of their own volition, I thought ah brilliant!! Only when I had planted them and went away did I start to think, hmmm don't know if really there were any roots on that...
But goodlife's description is just that:
"If there is growing bud attached into orange/yellow coloured chunk of root all should be well.."
That is exactly what it was, so maybe it's ok after all...

yes I have heard it's a tough old bird! And it's also true that it does seem to attract beasties! But it doesn't actually seem to be affected by them - maybe it provides shelter so they are kind enough not to eat it (or its nasty toxins  are off-putting). Well since I didn't actually dig out the mother plant, I guess it will all come out in the wash! Would be good fun to have more rhubarb though, I love it.

[goodlife]

Code Select Expand

Would be good fun to have more rhubarb though, I love it.
Ohhh...be careful what you wish for.. ;D..you'll be soon throwing it over the fence  to your neighbours side if you are not careful ;D It does tend to 'take on' from even quite small pieces ;)

[Tonythegardener]

I don't think that you have got much to worry about antipodes.  I split up my rhubarb last autum and replanted it.  I thought that I would loose it over the very cold winter but it is budding up again now and I am thinking of putting some black dustbins over  to force it a bit.  I have the rhubarb Champaign and another one which I don't know the name of because it was on the allotment when I took it over 30 odd years ago.

[antipodes]

Gosh they live a long time don't they? I have divided the one that I put in in 2007. The other one went in in 2008, and I will divide that one up next year. I have no idea what the variety is though! I just bought them in pots at the garden centre!
I don't force mine, and even so it's usually the first crop in the spring, with the peas and lettuce  :)