Rhubarb bolting

[Paulines7]

A couple of weeks ago I noticed my rhubarb had many strong flowering buds.  I picked them off but more keep coming. 

I can think of three reasons why this bolting is so early this year. 

a)  I covered part of the plant last year with a bucket to force some of it.
b)  The plant hasn't been divided for a few years.
c)  We had snow in November and the plant now thinks it is later than it actually is.

I have only had one small crop off the rhubarb because it has produced more buds than leaves.

Am I doing any harm picking off the buds and if division is the answer, when is the best time to do it please?

Your suggestions would be most welcome.   

[Paulines7]

[goodlife]

Paulines...don't worry..I'm sure everything you've done is fine..it's this unusually warm weather we've had that forced it to come to flower early..mine are same and judging the other plots plants they have same thing going on ;)
Some on lottie are in fool bloom now..but my plants being mulched so heavily are only just started show the flower stalk..so only propably week or so later from those plants that aren't looked after as much.
Just keep taking them off and the leaf stalks are still perfectly edible for while yet..no effect to that what so ever ;) ;D

[goodlife]

..and to add to that..
Take the whole flower stalk off from the bottom..not just the bud from the top and any new flowers stalk formation will slow down or stop. ;)
Division is only necessary when the plant are not productive or become too large..if yours were productive last year..yours should be fine.
To get them produce more leaves..give the plants heavy dose of chicken pellets or something similar..and bucket of water per plant..while it's still dry weather..and they soon respond to that..
Division is usually done during winter/spring when the plants don't have any growth on.

[cornykev]

Pauline I've just bumped Rhubarb flowering for you.   ???

[Paulines7]

Thanks for your replies.  It is good to know that I am not the only one having problems.  Goodlife, thanks for the tip of taking off the whole flower stalk.  I have just been nipping off the flower head itself.

Kev, I don't know how I missed the other post!   ::)  I did a search for "rhubarb" and then another for "rhubarb bolting" and the thread that you have kindly pointed me too did not come up in either search!   :-\

I was away last week and only got the opportunity to pop in very briefly, otherwise I don't think I would have missed it as I normally look in at least twice a day.