Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 1, 2009 Share Posted May 1, 2009 Our rhubarb is doing reall well (despite being ignored for years ) and has loads of stalks. It's now got some large, rather triffid like , what looks like flowers sprouting. I've looked on t'internet and it says I should cut them off. Obviously I don't trust t'internet but I do trust you lot . Is that what I should do ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted May 1, 2009 Share Posted May 1, 2009 I've neve seen ous flower, but Google seems to say chop them off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted May 2, 2009 Share Posted May 2, 2009 we have some too I just pull/break/cut them off have you made anything nice with the roobarb yet? cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted May 2, 2009 Share Posted May 2, 2009 Yes, the advice seems to say break or cut them off. Shame, they sound cool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted May 2, 2009 Share Posted May 2, 2009 My FIL told me to chop them off and put them on the compost heap too . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 The flowers look like dock/sorrel when they are allowed to carry on. My rhubarb has done that this year so I snapped the heads off. Now all I'm left with is a couple of leaves and not enough to pull and scoff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 I came on here to ask the very same question, one of my plants has a huge flower stalk. I'm going to go and get rid of the flower now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Marple Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 (edited) Cut it off quick. Wise words from my mum- the rhubarb expert in our family. It will come back. She sorted mine out yesterday!! It was going to flower and seed - not what we want apparently. Edited May 3, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 Mmmm rhubarb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted May 4, 2009 Share Posted May 4, 2009 I cut mine off too. Why does it do that I wonder? Not enough nutrients in the soil? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted May 4, 2009 Share Posted May 4, 2009 Perhaps it's the warmth - we had an early bout of heat and a long dry spell. I transplanted mine last year and it is only 2 years old now, so nothing to do with age. It had a lot of manure on it this year - probably thought it was in heaven after being starved! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted May 5, 2009 Share Posted May 5, 2009 We have a few flowes on ours, we haven't taken them off this year and our patch is now huge after being moved a couple of years back. It is old established rhubarb. We have frozen loads for winter puds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggypeggy Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 Some people leave them, some cut them off, it's up to you. I always get rid of mine as soon as I see them, the theory being it'll stop the plant putting energy into creating flowers and seeds and put more energy into stem making! I think it's the dry spell, plants often send up flower seed pods in 'drought' in order to reproduce in case they die off. Enjoy your roob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 We cut ours off last night after reading this thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Mine has done that this year too . It was an enormous and really weird looking. I rang my mum and she said I should chop it off, so I did what I was told . Isn't it odd that it's happened to us all this year. I too wonder if it's the weather conditions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 7, 2009 Author Share Posted May 7, 2009 They look triffid-like don't they . Wouldn't fancy letting them get any bigger and actually flower . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BocBoc Posted May 18, 2009 Share Posted May 18, 2009 I chopped mine off too at the weekend - funny how there seems to be loads of flowers this year. My rhubarb plant is yonks old - I've lived in the house for five years and it was in the garden when I moved in - first year I've had flowers though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 Off with their heads!!! MIne too have flowered for the first tim - funny that! Louise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aga n Chickens Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 All of my rhubarb has sent flower spikes this year. One plant is on it's 3rd spike and the largest clump has had 5 flower heads cut off already and I can see another 3 forming. It's a bit catch 22....cut off the flowers and you encourage more to grow, leave the flowers on and it takes the energy from the plant and the shortens the growing season. Is this happening all over the UK ? Has the 'Yorkshire Rhubarb Triangle' been affected I had a glut of stems early in the season to make the chutney, and had planned to make up a few of the other recipes posted on the 'all things nice' area, but there might not be enough rhubarb left to try them out this year Christine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 I am certainly not getting as much off my rhubarb this year as usual . It's so weird how we are all being affected this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 I feel left out I want mine to have a flower now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
