Rhubarb flowers 2 pics

[kenkew]

Pic 1 is the flower. Pic 2 is after cutting out the flower as low down as you can.

[kenkew]

[Clayhithe]

ouch :-X

[kenkew]

I've just returned after watching a Dutch TV prog on hemorrhoid removal. There is a very close picturesque familiarity connecting the two.
(No pudding for me tonight.)

[chrispea27]

rhubarb looks really healthy Ken which part of the country are you in?

[wardy]

Kenkew   Never heard haemorroids and rhubarb mentioned in the same sentence  ;D   Great looking stuff. Can't wait til mine is that size.  I shall then be mostly drinking rhubarb frapees (sp?)  :)

[kenkew]

I'm in North Belgium on about the same latitude as London.

[moonbells]

I had to wrench out a huge inflorescence at the weekend too. I was a bit cross with my main plant - has only grown short stubby stalks so far and the flower bud.  I am hoping the torrential rain and massive thunderstorm we had yesterday gives it a boost. 

moonbells

[legless]

mine has taken off really well, i had to remove flower stalks yesterday too. they're gloopy!!

[Debs]

Yep, me also.

thanks to you Kenkew -  I did not know that this was  a necessary part of rhubarb care.

Why does this need to be done?

Does it deplete the plant of energy so lessen the production??

Debs ( rhubarb novice)

[chrispea27]

Sounds like a logical answer cant see rhubarb flowers in a vase somehow??? 8)

[kenkew]

All plants will strive to reproduce and rhubarb along with all other plants does this by producing a flower, there-fore seed. Most of any plants' energy is used this way, quite normal and natural. Then in steps 'man'. With intervention we can 'clone' a plant by division. This produces a 'new' plant faster and is not as hit and miss as it is in nature. All plants are on a natural evolutionary track and each time a plant seeds it's new seeds are taking into account environmental changes. Division doesn't do this. Division is simply part of the old plant regrowing. So, if you leave your rhubarb to flower the plant will have accomplished it's mission and all but stop producing fruit.

[Clayhithe]

This was to have been my first year with rhubarb.

I planted the crown (?stool,  whatever) about a month ago.

A week later it collapsed into a soggy mass and died.

What should I have done?   Will it recover?  What should I do now?

???

[MarthaMad]

Mine colapsed and did the dance of death.... But then a few weeks later it spring into life. 

I guess it was just trying ot freak me out!   

[kenkew]

Clay', It's just the wrong time of year to do it. It might recover but don't try feeding it or forcing it. Either leave it and pray or take it out and try with a healthy crown in Autumn.

[Clayhithe]

Thanks for that Ken,  I'll try again later.

[Mrs Ava]

OKay, good, phew!  ONe of my larger bubby plants shot up a flower, which I oiked off today.  Gald to hear I am not alone!