Rhubarb Plants

Theveggardener

I put 8 seeds in and 6 took at the beginning of the year. As you can see they are doing well, the picture only shows two of the plants. They are all in 12 to 14 inch deep pots and taking up a lot of space. Can I put them into the ground now and would they survive the winter or should I leave them in the pot's under cover till next year. I know I can't pull the stems till next year but it does look if one or two of them might be about to send up a flower spike should I cut that off? I've never grown Rhubarb before so any advice would be great.

HouseFinch

I am no expert-but in my experience everything does better in the ground throughout winter. Putting them in now allows them to develop a strong root system-which would be restricted in the pot. Soil also insulates the plant better-IMHO. Last winter I bedded mine with lots of manure as soon as I could (October) with plans for moving it in early spring. Still giving it a years grace period before harvesting though-Even though it was in a pot from early spring last year.

Theveggardener

Thanks HouseFinch, So the weekend after this I now know what I'm doing now. This weekend the GH goes up which will leave the area I'm thinking of free for them to go in although do I really need all those plants I think not just for two people, might offer a couple to a friend.

Guernsey Donkey2

I am intrigued by this post.  I didn't know that Rhubarb could be grown from seed.  I have always thought you had to buy a crown, which is quite expensive.  Which company produces Rhubarb seed or did you collect it from a flowering plant? I would certainly like to try growing my own Rhubarb seed over the winter. @NannaBoo and @HouseFinch

Theveggardener

There you are Guernsey Donkey2 the company is either Johnsons or Johnston, think it was Johnsons. I bought them from Wilco as you can see they a quite a big seed. Hope this helps.

Theveggardener

Guernsey Donkey2 I found these other companies on the net who also sell Rhubarb seeds.
Unwins, Wickes, Amazon and Sutton are just a few. Hope this helps. 

HouseFinch

NannaBoo said:

Thanks HouseFinch, So the weekend after this I now know what I'm doing now. This weekend the GH goes up which will leave the area I'm thinking of free for them to go in although do I really need all those plants I think not just for two people, might offer a couple to a friend.

I inadvertently ended up with three. They were from dividing a very mature plant. There was space for them in our garden-at the time-and we plan to share when they are safe to harvest. Tried to give one to MIL, but she insisted it would grow better here-and she can reap the benefits without the upkeep

Here they are today. The pumpkins are invading.

Think it was Francis that mentioned this spring on GW about boxing them up for longer stalks...couldn't find the remark when I re-watched the episode though. It made sense to do it, and I had the boxes, so I stacked two high around my transplants this spring.

I had forced them early so that I could move them. Wanted to get the shoots going to get a good idea of where to dig it out. Another reason I'm giving them extra time to grow, as it adds more stress on the plant.

Guernsey Donkey2 They readily produce seeds, but I was taught not to let them, as it puts their energy into the seed heads instead of their stalks. Anytime flower stalks pop up, I cut them off with the scissors and compost them.

Theveggardener

Wow HouseFinch, that is some patch of rhubarb. I have loads of wood I don't know what to do with so think I'll box it in. Did you know that if you a and orange to rhubarb it take's away the thing that puts your teeth on edge. Once my GH is up it looks like I have a lot of project to do with wood

To be honest the seeds are so cheap I wouldn't want to weaken the plant and at 50 seeds for £2.50 why bother.

HouseFinch

@NannaBoo Just hacked some of the pumpkin back so it should have an easier time now. It was a bit of a jungle in there. I hadn't heard that about orange will have to give it a try. We have only ever harvested it in the fall, when the stalks have that full flavour. I think the other benefit to the boxes is it warms the soil up faster in spring being raised and gives it a head start.

Theveggardener

HouseFinch, son said sound good to him so will be boxing ours in as soon as I've court up with all the other jobs. My garden is covered in all gardening pot's, tray's,tools you name it it's out there all covered up so I have to get that into the GH once it's up on Monday. I then need another Hedgehog hotel and a garden screen along with a fruit cage, so you can see I'm busy I have all the materials just need to get on with it. What variety do you grown mine are all Victoria, I can't say what it's like as we haven't pulled any yet as I only sowed the seed last April.

Guernsey Donkey2

Thanks @NannaBoo , I have learned something new today - I just assumed Rhubarb plants were split not grown from seed.  I have had a flower stalk shoot up from my crowns but cut them off before the flowers formed as I too believe that flowering weakens the plant.  Perhaps that is an old wives tale?  I will put Rhubarb seeds on my list for growing next season - would you sow them in Spring time or earlier?