Allotments 4 All

I have 8 plants now on my allotment, but 5 are producing growths that look like turning into flower stalks.

Should I cut or pull them out to help the plants concentrate on producing more stalks now/saving strength for next year?

These plants were all grown from seed last year and planted out by October 2005.

http://www.powen.freeserve.co.uk/veg/rhubarb.htm
It says here to remove the flowering stems  ;D

Hi delboy, my mum always cut off the flowering stems to 'save their strength'. If my two rhubub ever get big enough to flower, I will too :)

Mine looked like this for the first time ever last year..........



I just sliced the flower stalks off and it produced no differently.

Slippy Fly

What an amazing site that is!

Off with those flower stalks..

Yes, unless you want to save seed for propagation, you need to take off the flower shoots to let the plant's energy go into producing leafy growth.

A strong rhubarb crown will usually throw up one or more flower stems; take it as a sign that your plants are doing well, and break them off as soon as you see them. I spotted one on mine yesterday, but I was watering them with the contents of the pee barrel at the time, and didn't feel like pulling it off till it had had time to dry!

I grew my rhubarb from seed last year and they have flowered too, glad I know to cut them off now.

Hi Delboy, Hi Robert,  :D

QuoteI was watering them with the contents of the pee barrel at the time

Serious question - are you talking human pee? directly onto the rhubarb?
Is this a good thing?  ???

I just normally pee into the compost heap. It will be a year before it gets into contact with plants.

Col

Yes pull those flowering stems out. I still smile when I see posts about pee,when I first joined this internet game I  was quite shy about posting,there were these ladies talking about peeing......................... :)

Don't the the answer re the pee but can I ask another?

I was give some bits of rhubarb in January and they were the first thing I planted on my plot.  I have three plants growing now about the size you could just get a bucket over I guess.  Anyway - they seem to be sending out nice pink stems and leaves every day but can I cut and use them this year or should I just let them grow?  If I cany cut it this year, do I have to cut it back at all in the autumn?

Cheers

Robert,

Do you pee in a barrel at the lotty, or save it at home and transport it? This fascinates me; there are no toilets at the lotty, and I normally have to pee whilst no-ones looking. Normally this is against the compost bin, (as it provides a screen), but storing it in a barrel would be a seriously good idea.

tell me more

Hey amanda, if it's their first year it's probably a good idea to let them grow and 'gather their strength' (that's my ma talking again!).

David R - glad you asked the question, I was too shy :-[ :)

Is the new info on this thread a sign that it has gone "off pisste"?

Let them grow Amanda

:-\ there is rhubard growing along the edge of my plot - it was stickin out of the black plastic,

I go in a bucket, and sling it in the barrel, which also gets any comfrey liquid I make. By the time it goes on the rhubarb or whatever it's well and truly gone off or whatever the term is. But I also wee directly onto plants, and it's never hurt them. Anything rather than waste good resources.

Incidentally if that's your boundary path I'd suggest moving the rhubarb away from it; a flourishing clump takes up a lot of space when it gets going. That' looks like a fairly new planting to me.

so the sprouts the dog pee'd on will be ok then - phew  :P

Quote from: Rhys on April 17, 2006, 12:27:24
I grew my rhubarb from seed last year and they have flowered too, glad I know to cut them off now.

Just ordered a load of seed; Do they require any special care to grow?  Ma always says plant them on an old compost heap (which I plan to do so) but can I scatter them and they'll grow or do I go the long way round of into a seed tray etc?

thanks Robert,

A good idea, and one i shall be trying. If nothing else, peeing into a bucket or bottle can be done in the privacy of ones own car!