My inlaws need to move theirs to make way for some decking. Any tips?
Thoroughly prepare the new planting site in advance incorporating 'tons' of good stuff with the soil...digging nice BIG hole for the rootball and saturating it with water...moving the dug up clump into the hole and after back filling it giving it generous amount of chicken manure pellets and again..good watering. Remove all but couple of the youngest leaves..once the roots are established and able, the plant soon grows more new leaves but as it is 'disturbed'..it won't be able to keep lush top growth going and it will slow the roots establishment.
oh...and no harvesting the new stalks this year anymore...
cheers. will pass on the information
Will it really move at this time of the year? I'd want to leave it until Winter if pos, no? I've found it takes quite a while for rhubarb to establish and echo the advice re: good stuff.
Move it in the winter. Dig the old plant out/leave for the frost to do what it has to do/tidy the plant, divide if needed/replant over a good bed of compost.
Job done.
Hope you don't mind sleep but I have related question my allotment has rhubarb in a half a barrel it is doing well now with the rain but struggles during dry spells and the soil looks worn out.
I wasn't thinking digging big hole layered with horse dung. Knock the end off the barrel out and sliding into the hole. Would I get away with that now or wise to wait
QuoteWould I get away with that now or wise to wait
I was giving the 'tips' for the previous question because it was said 'they
need to move it out of way'...but I do agree with others..it is always best to do when the plant is dormant and not growing.
Saying that...if your plant is not doing that well anyway and it is struggling as it now.. I can't see much advantage for letting the plant just cope on the current situation. IWith some TLC you may get head start with the new growth and maybe with a bit of luck your plant would establish itself enough for a small harvest next spring.
BUT...you will need to keep the plant really well watered this year! Otherwise the same advise that I gave will apply..
Saying that you will 'slide it into hole'...it sounds ideal way to do it..but in reality it won't happen that way..with all the weight and nature of the soil..you will end up taking the contents into apart. I do hope you prove me wrong...
How long has it been in the present situation? If it has been there sometime, the roots could be enormous.
I think I would be tempted to put a piece in the freezer and see it you can persuade it to think that winter has come and then take it out and make it think it is spring.
Or maybe cut your losses and buy a new one. It might be a lot of work keeping it watered through the summer.