Moving Rhubarb

[Strawberrygirl]

When is it a good time to move rhubarb?  We have moved plots and only have till the end of October before we have to give the old plot up so i want to move a few things over, including a rather sick looking blueberry.  I have split and moved a few herbs and they seem to be ok, just not sure about fruit though.

[Strawberrygirl]

[Melbourne12]

We normally split and move rhubarb in November, but I'm sure October would be fine.

[Strawberrygirl]

Cheers for that. I am sure we will be able to leave it till November, can't see anyone moving in this side of Christmas!

[goodlife]

Ideally you would move your rhubarb when the leaves have died down and before new growth start. But as this is not option for you, you might as well tackle the job when ever you can do it. If you rhubarb is big established clump, I would not move the whole lot but dig the main bit up and divide it into smaller chunks. Newer outer edges of the root ball will make for you much vigorous plants that will give you huge crops in couple of years time. The first year after planting is always good to allow plant to consentrate its efforts for growing by not cropping any stalks or just allowing yourself take few.
Oh..and don't try to move the plants with lot of leaves attaches..remove most when dividing and leave just few the newest leaves attached or if its not practical..take the whole lot of . Your crown may well try to grow few new leaves before the winter sets.
If you don't have time to make proper preparation to the ground for your rhubarb..just 'drop' them in and you can always keep the top of the soil heavily mulched and next spring give it a good feed..all the goodness will eventually 'travel' where it is needed. I use my rhubarb bed as 'tip' for old compost, grass clippings etc. and it will all get used up, you can't never give rhubarb too much of good stuff...they are HUNGRY plants.

[Strawberrygirl]

Thanks Goodlife, all makes sense.  I shall make sure OH takes note as he has a tendancy to "do things his way" lol!

[cleo]

October will be fine. Rhubarb is as tough as old boots. Mine is still the one I inherited from my first plot in 1977 as has lasted 3 moves