My rhubarbs coming back to life......anyone else?
This natural not forced.
Not mine yet, but one of the gardens I work in already has a row of protruding pink buds - again, not forced.
ours was showing so I covered it today ;D
Mine wasn't showing on Sunday... :-\
bud showing Tuesday. Its in a sheltered spot. No idea what sort as on lottie when I took them over.
got some showing, I've put a barrel full of straw over one of my crowns, I cover a different one each year, we love pink rhubarb ;)
It is showing some pink bits ;)
My Timperley Early is showing quite a lot, and one of the clumps of Champagne. Still no sign of life from Victoria or the other Champagne
Kitty Katt
MIne's well mulched, it's probably enjoying a lie in :) No sign of it yet.
i noticed today that mine is just peeking (i think its Victoria) i'm putting another layer of compost on it tomorrow to protect from next weeks expected cold weather.
Mine wasn't showing on Saturday, Saddad!
Thifasmom...let the cold get at it then cover it up it will grow on a lot faster after a cold spell on it.
Quote from: Richard Kinson on January 30, 2009, 10:51:28
Thifasmom...let the cold get at it then cover it up it will grow on a lot faster after a cold spell on it.
ok thanks will do.
didn't it get a cold spell 2 weeks ago?
Mine's showing. I don't know how anything can grow in the temperatures we've been getting, but some things seem to manage.
Yes tony we did have a cold spell a couple of weeks ago but, no where near as cold as we used to have it. Half the rhubarb we grew in the fields was left on top of the ground through the winter and then redet about March time it always came on faster then that what was left in the ground.
They now lift it in november, put it on pallets in warehouses with refrigeration, then turn off the refrigeration and it grows away very fast, they use a low heat and green lighting, this is so the pickers can see what they are doing, but the rhubarb stays green/pink. ;)
Think its called the rhubarb triangle up near Leeds area where they still grow it under candlelight
That's something I'd like to see! ;), really!! ;)
My local club has booked a visit to the forcing sheds next month - really looking forward to it.
http://www.yorkshirerhubarb.co.uk/ruhbarb_triangle.htm
Cor! You learn something every day :o. Thanks for the link aussiedigger :)
This has been a helpful thread.
I thought I'd try leaving some of mine on the soil surface to let the frost get at it, so I did that in November. It started sprouting a week ago, while still lying on the surface, so I've now planted it in a pocket of garden compost and put another layer of compost on top. It's tough stuff.
Been to inspect mine thismorning, two crowns are sprouting so I've tucked them up nice and cosy. ;D
Mine's coming up. Last time I lifted the roots, several years ago, it was as much as I could do to lift them, so I'm not inclined to repeat the experiment unless they start losing vigour.
ok
i'm confused (not hard i know)
if you can lift it to frost it every year why do i have to not crop from mine having moved it?
lbb
you lift the rhubarb crowns to force. They are then cropped to destruction and discarded not replanted. Young plants are brought on each year to replace.
Most people just leave it growing in the ground and maybe cover it with a bucket or similar object. This will give nice pink shoots but not as early or prolific as in the forcing sheds. What normally happens then is that after the initial few meals someone runs out of custard then the rhubarb gets forgotten so it recovers.
ok, thank you.
lbb
Quote from: Eristic on February 01, 2009, 00:33:54What normally happens then is that after the initial few meals someone runs out of custard then the rhubarb gets forgotten so it recovers.
;D ;D ;D ;D
Yes I have little pink crwons forming, my "mother" plant now has 4 crowns it seems! She will be a whopper this year. I put a nice pile of manure around both of mine, in a circle around it, hopefully that will give it a good start. I don't know the variety but mine makes delicious rhubarb but with quite thin stalks. Perhaps I need to water it more this year ???
Yep, one of the young plants that were sown last year has its first little teeny weeny stem of 2009 with leaf coming up. Last week just the pink crown was showing and looked a bit, erm, rude! :-[
well i plan next week on having a wander up to the allotment so i can work out what needs to be packed and move with me. I have leaf mould to put on the rhubard at the same time and if one is showing i will cover it to try and force it :)
Can you find it under the snow Cam? ???