Allotments 4 All

I have just taken on a new plot which has two huge ( prob. 4' across, 4' high) rhubarb plants in it. They both appear to be either flowering or about to at the moment. Is this a good thing ?  I seem to recall somewhere that they should be cut down, but can't find anything in the WIKI.

At best rhubarb Crumble, at worst, a good start for the compost heap !!

Any help would be much appreciated.

Keithy

They sound like neglected crowns that have been allowed to run riot. Strip down the crown, it freezes well and makes great jam with a bit of ginger. If the middle of the crown is dead/rotting, you need to split it at the end of the season, Do one this year and one next so you get a good crop next year as well. Replant sections of the root with a healthy bud and allow them to bed down next year...
:)

Hmm - they sound a lot like one of my rhubarb plants - huge, but not neglected! There was a thread on the forum earlier about flowering - lots of us have experienced it this year, and I don't think its anything to worry about. Worth checking the centre of the crown though anyway, in case they do need splitting.

not sure but they say you should never put rubarb on the compost heap?

Its ok for composting

The best of my plants are that size, and that's what I want them to be! I'm not splitting till I see the centres dying off. I just break off the flower stalks every year, and compost all the waste.

Also I think that the different varieties of rhubarb grow to different sized plants - I have about 6 plants, and some are totally different from others. The only one I really am sure of is Timperley Early, which has slender stalks and seems an altogether more delicate sized plant.

our rhubarb on the site (that is, everyone's rhubarb) is huge!
i am wondering if in fact the dry winter we had is preferable to the plants than a wet winter? i mean, i know i wouldnt want cold damp feet - would you???

at some point i will check the crowns for splitting - but they all look fine atm. :)

They like dampness, but have very deep roots. So mine flourishes no matter what, since there's always water a foot or two down. It's the shallow rooting stuff that can suffer.

Thanks for all your advice. I have taken the flowers out this morning, and will split bothe plants over the next couple of years.

Thanks again

Keithy