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[Cinnamon]

Any experts out there?

 

We were given a couple of crowns last year, & they have sprouted really well & now have lots of long green stems.,

But our biggest one has developed a funny looking flower on top - any ideas why & what we should do with it?

Also should we harvest the fruit this year or leave it until next?

[chickencam]

Rhubarb does flower and seems to have done more and more in the past couple of years. There seems some debate about whether or not you should remove the flowers. We removed a lot last year and then the leaves started to die back, but that might have been coincidence because it was further into the season than now.

 

As to whether ot not to pick any, common sense is your best guide, if they were good established crowns from a friend then you probably can provided that there are plenty of strong looking stems. If most of the stems are very thin, i would leave it a year.

 

We have an enormous rhubarb patch at our allotment and the stems grow to well over an inch wide

[..lay a little egg for me]

I believe the advice is not to harvest any for the 1st year, but if the crown is very vigorous, I'm sure enough for a small rhubarb crumble would be OK We also cut off the flowers of our rhubarb last year and it does not seem to have come to any harm. It is already huge with stems over an inch thick.

[Cinnamon]

Fab - I adore rhubarb.

It does have a fair few good thick stems,which are pinking up nicely. I will try my hardest not to cut any,but am making no promises

[chickencam]

Sounds like a few for a taster wouldn't do any harm

[jnb]

Cut the flowering stem off and avoid harvesting in the first year. Also feed these things, lots, I generally just add several inches of stable manure each autumn.

[Cinnamon]

They are in the wild area of the garden,where we mulch everything with the Aubiose flooring from the chicken pen 4 times a year,so I reckon they are pretty well fed

[sjp]

I've noticed the next door neighbours has flowered and it's only just come up.but I do now that it was grown from seed and has always been prone to flowering because it's one I grew 30 odd years ago.I dug mine out because of it flowering. but I've never known it this early in the season

[Daphne]

I've never seen a rhubarb flower, what colour are they and are they attractive?

 

I did a taste test comparison yesterday between some Timperley Early and something else which is either Victoria or Champagne . Anyway the TE has been in a few years and this year the stems are thin but red (its in a bed which is probably too sunny/dry and has competition from rasps so thats probably why the sticks are a bit thin). The other one is only a year old but already its a big fat clump with big fat sticks tho they are more green than red - its in a wetter veg bed with less competition and more manure. The TE probably had the better flavour, tarter but deeper.

[Valkyrie]

If you've seen dock plants in flower then they are similar. My one started budding so I broke it off - I did the same thing last year and the plant died down - thought I'd lost it. Might consider digging it up if it keeps doing that every year.

[Cinnamon]

If you've seen dock plants in flower then they are similar. My one started budding so I broke it off - I did the same thing last year and the plant died down - thought I'd lost it. Might consider digging it up if it keeps doing that every year.

 

Yes,that is what they are similar too - thanks,it was driving me mad!

[chickencam]

I think we might leave our flowers this year and see what difference that makes, because they died back when we cut them down last year.

[sjp]

I've never seen a rhubarb flower, what colour are they and are they attractive?

 

greenish and ugly i think they are pollenated by flies not bees

 

as for the flowers they're best pull off as soon as you see the buds apear that way they don't take any energy out of the plant

[Tiggy]

I had flower buds on mine too, Ive had the plant for well over 6 years & its never done it before, its very vigorous iwth all the composted chicken muck Ive given it over the winter, maybe its feeling frisky

[sjp]

rhubarb seems to have been flowering more this last couple of years. we've got clumps on the allottments that no one ever remembers flowering that flowered last year.not sure about this year as I forgot to have a look saturday.I've been wondering if it's because it needs digging up and splitting

[Jools]

I've just planted a couple of crowns and was dismayed to read in Kitchen Garden magazine this month that you shouldn't harvest until year three.

 

No wonder my last effort gave up and died. It couldn't cope with my impatience.

[chickencam]

You can get round this a bit by planting large well established crowns from an existing mature patch. Do you know any one with a big rhubarb patch? If so beg some from them in the autumn and by next spring you should have harvestable rhubarb.

[sparkysmum]

Hi Cinnamon, you can pick rhubarb in it's first season but according to local wisdom ( ) you must leavefour stalks per crown. Enjoy