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judith



Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire
PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 06 11:20 am    Post subject: Rhubarb Reply with quote
    

Mine is growing like crazy this year - must have been the 6 inches of horse poo that did it. Just went to pick some, and I've noticed the start of flower stalks on one plant. Almost all my books say to cut them off, all apart from Christopher Lloyd who says that they look fantastic and he always leaves them on. I must say, I rather fancy having some crazy inflorescences (great word!) in my veg patch, so what's the verdict?

Lop 'em off or let them be?

bernie-woman



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7824
Location: shropshire
PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 06 11:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Went down to our newly inherited allotment yesterday and all six plants of ours have flowers on them as do nearly all of the other plants on other plots

One of the allotment old timers told me you should not use the rhubarb once it has started flowering - I can't find anything in any of the books about this - I am leaving mine on and we are having rhubarb tonight from a flowered plant

bernie-woman



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7824
Location: shropshire
PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 06 11:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Just found this ...

The only other attention required is to cut off flower heads which may appear in early spring as the new rhubarb stalks emerge. Do this as soon as possible - if the flower head is left to grow and set seed, the plant will never fully recover to good strength.

With six plants on the plot I think I may take the flowers off three of them and leave the rest to see what real effect it has

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales
PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 06 11:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I've only just planted mine, was given three crowns by a friend so I've popped them on the site of an old compost heap in the hope the soil will be rich enough to get them established. Anything else they like whilst they get settled?

Will



Joined: 30 Jun 2005
Posts: 571
Location: Grenoside, Sheffield
PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 06 11:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Our rhubarb is absolutely huge already. We've only got one crown but OH took 2kg excluding leaves off it yesterday. I blame the huge stack of manure and compost it's been under for the winter...

Stewed rhubarb and ginger last night, rhubarb and orange tart tomorrow...

...I'm sure I'll be fed up with rhubarb eventually, but for now it's quite exciting.

judith



Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire
PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 06 11:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

bernie wrote:
With six plants on the plot I think I may take the flowers off three of them and leave the rest to see what real effect it has


With 6 healthy plants, I might risk it too - unless you make wine, of course. I've got 3 plants, and that is more than enough for the two of us. Perhaps I need to start another thread under Recipes.

Still in two minds about the flowers though.

judith



Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire
PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 06 11:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

sally_in_wales wrote:
I've only just planted mine, was given three crowns by a friend so I've popped them on the site of an old compost heap in the hope the soil will be rich enough to get them established. Anything else they like whilst they get settled?


Sounds like ideal conditions to me. If you can pile on the poo over winter, it should do really well.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism
PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 06 11:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Ours always tries to flower at this time of year and I always cut them off as the 'barb struggles on our thin chalky soil. I've given it a good mulch of rich compost and then rotted straw to keep it moist, it likes it moist IIRC.

If you get too much it makes a very good wine.

Bugs



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 06 11:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Rhubarb wine (sorry, Sean...rhubarb alcoholic festive beverage) is absolutely gloriously lovely and delicious. Do make it. There's a good thread on here about it somewhere.

sean
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42207
Location: North Devon
PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 06 11:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

My understanding is that you can solve all rhubarb related problems by digging it up, burning it, ploughing salt into the ground in which it grew, using that stump rotting stuff on any left over bits and moving house.
Then you should be safe. I don't like rhubarb much.

bernie-woman



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7824
Location: shropshire
PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 06 11:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

sean wrote:
My understanding is that you can solve all rhubarb related problems by digging it up, burning it, ploughing salt into the ground in which it grew, using that stump rotting stuff on any left over bits and moving house.
Then you should be safe. I don't like rhubarb much.


I like rhubarb but not sure I need six plants - it is the only thing growing on the inherited allotment plot apart from weeds and a rather sad looking lavender - might investigate the wine thing then

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism
PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 06 11:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

What about a nice bottle of tastey rhubarb wine? It tastes just like some of the French classic wines you can get....

Bugs



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 06 11:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

sean wrote:
My understanding is that you can solve all rhubarb related problems by digging it up, burning it, ploughing salt into the ground in which it grew, using that stump rotting stuff on any left over bits and moving house.
Then you should be safe. I don't like rhubarb much.


Sooo...if we ever meet up again you'll be saying no to a glass of chilled Early Victoria 2006 then?

lazzasurf



Joined: 01 Jan 2005
Posts: 30
Location: wolverhampton
PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 06 7:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

off topic but...
mine is growing very well at the mo, but due to poor planning on my part i now find i need to move it to another spot..
will it be ok or will a move kill it??

cheers all....

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism
PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 06 7:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I doubt you can ever kill rhubarb but it will take a while to settle into a new place. So if you move it now I would think you should wait until next year before picking. If you have plent of crowns then move some and pick the unmoved ones?

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