rhubarb flowers....

[dlmartin1972]

Hi All,

I am new here, but must say it is great to listen to things, i am learning so much about all things Allotment.

Anyway i got my plot at the start of last year, and grew some rhubarb from seed.  It is all looking really good, and i have picked some this year and it has been great. but i notice that all of my plants appear to be coming into flower, do i stop picking, or cut the flower heads off, or just carry on as usual ?

Any help much appreciated...

Regards,

Darren.

[dlmartin1972]

[Mrs Ava]

Cut the flower out before it develops.  I think when it flowers it stops producing new stems, and we can't have that!!

Welcome to the site.  More and more lurkers are coming 'out'.  Spring is definately in the air!

[cleo]

EJ has it-pull out those flower stems. and be patient-the plant needs time to develop.

Stephan

[dlmartin1972]

coming off tonight then...... :)

[kenkew]

...and don't remove all the stalks. Rhubarb gets strength from die-back of about 1/4 to 1/3 of it's fruit.

[Mrs Ava]

I am still resisting the urge to start pulling my bubby even though each crown has a good 8 or more stems at the ready.  Might plunder some at the weekend and make a crumble.

Mind you, found a bag of last autumns stewed apples in the freezer so warmed it up with a handful of golden sultanas and had that for pud tonite.  YUM!

[kenkew]

Please to be posting instructions to my Belgium OH who wouldn't know a crumble if it collapsed at her feet...failing that, please post crumble intact.

[Clayhithe]

From Mrs Clayhithe

6 oz plain flour
6 oz butter
2 oz caster sugar
pinch salt
1 lb blanched rhubarb (sugar to taste)

Rub butter into flour & sugar to fine crumb texture.
Place rhubarb in buttered dish,
top with crumble mix.
Cook 180F 20 min

Sorry,  I know this not the recipe section,
and Mrs C doesn't do metric

[Roy Bham UK]

Hi All,

I am new here, but must say it is great to listen to things, i am learning so much about all things Allotment.

Anyway i got my plot at the start of last year, and grew some rhubarb from seed.  It is all looking really good, and i have picked some this year and it has been great. but i notice that all of my plants appear to be coming into flower, do i stop picking, or cut the flower heads off, or just carry on as usual ?

Any help much appreciated...

Regards,

Darren.

I had read that you should not pull Rhubarb in its first year and decided to Google it and here is what I found...

"Rhubarb responds to good care and watering. Remove the flower stalks as they are seen. During the first year of planting, the stalks should not be picked, since food from the leaves is needed to nourish the roots for the next year's growth. One light picking may be taken during the year following planting if the plants are vigorous, and beginning the second year following planting, the entire plant may be harvested."

Hope this helps.

[Aussie Chick]

Hi,
Thanks for all the advice. I'm new to the site and couldn't believe my luck on finding the rhubarb subject. I collected a Greenhouse at the weekend and with it came rhubarb! So now i know what to do with it tomorrow. thanks again,
Aussie Chick :)

[terrace max]

Rhubarb curry is nice too.

Seriously.

[wivvles]

Rhubarb curry is nice too.

Seriously.

You can't leave it at that!!!! I need a recipe....

[terrace max]

No worries, Wivvles!

I'll post it on the Recipes 4 All website in the next couple of days...

[dlmartin1972]

Hi All,

Thanks so much for all the replies.....

I am thinking that my plants are in there second year, as i planted them in Feb of last year as seeds.  Am i right, or should i not be picking at all this year ???

Also interested in the curry !!!

Regards,

Darren.