Allotments 4 All

This is very interesting, jennym stress is probably the key, ALL my bubby is in flower, and every bit was given to me last year!!  So it most definitely is not overcrowded!!

The only thing I have noted with regard to stress, is that this winter has been long, cold, and noticeably dry ... would this contribute to the stress issue? (assuming that stress may possibly be the cause?) However, I have several plants, at least 15, and have only noticed one in flower, so in the main they seem comfortable ... ?

As the soil has been quite dry and given that they are 'new' plants to my plot feeling threatened  :o ::) is something that I could quite understand. 

When life is in danger, reproducing itself would seem quite normal :-\

another newbie question  :)

our row of rhubarb is shooting up now with some quite large stems - when do you harvest it ? And any other tips for keeping it in shipshape condition ?
thanks

Harvest now buy firmly gripping the stems near to the base of the plant and pulling - they slip away cleanly from the mumma.  I take no more than half of the stems at any one picking as I figure without the leaves, how will the plant feed!

As for keeping it in good shape, keep it weed free, and give it a top dressing of compost in the autumn

Liquid manure as it grown won't do any harm either.

What a surprise!  Went over to the lottie today and two of my rhubarb plants had  a little bulbous bit coming up from them, -  as advised I have yanked mine off too and put them on the compost heap........very interesting!! busy_lzzie

Five of mine are also flowering for the first time. :-\       ;D

At lottie today and noticed that all of my clumps (4 i think) had started to produce flower buds.

Did as previously advised and yanked 'em and slung 'em in the compost  ;D.

Picked about 31b of rhooby and loads more to come...

Mine are flowering too (Sussex) one new plant from last year, one very established plant - was a bit surprised,and although only my second year of allotmenteering do not recall seeing flowering rhubarb before. Will now chop off all the flower heads as advised. Looks like it's the weather conditions over the last few months, with a sudden spring that has set them all off.