Rhubarb problem

kmjmclaughlin

Anyone know what this is and what I should do with it? I have had this rhubarb plant now 6 years and this is the first time I have this growing on it. 

kmjmclaughlin

kmjmclaughlin said:

Anyone know what this is and what I should do with it? I have had this rhubarb plant now 6 years and this is the first time I have this growing on it. 

Dovefromabove

Hello @kmjmclaughlin  and welcome to the forum 😊 

It’s a flowering spike ... snap it off at the base and give the base of your plant a good soaking with several buckets of water. 

Stress from drought can often trigger flowering, particularly early in the season. 

Dovefromabove

Some more info on this thread https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/comment/2170233#Comment_2170233

Hope that helps 😊 

debs64

I had exactly the same but did as advised and all seems well now

kmjmclaughlin

Thank you everyone. I have done that now. Fingers crossed all works out well. 

Dovefromabove

Just keep an eye on any remaining stump as it might be a place where rot can set in. It if goes slimy remove it. 

kmjmclaughlin

Brilliant thank you

GemmaJF

Catch them early, the stem will be solid, no water trap for rot. When they get bigger, the stem becomes hollow, make sure you get it off right by the crown so it doesn't leave a little tube where water can collect.

I have a variety that freely flowers every year, annoying really, but the days are long gone when a neighbour would split the crown and offer me some. Had to grow it from seed and I think the available seed varieties are often free flowering from what I have seen.

Silver surfer

When we moved here we brought Rhubarb with us.
Ground very free draining.
It flowered.
Now I water it every day, as soon as the leaves appear.....2 gallons a go.
Now no problem with flowering stalks.

Sunk 3 long drain pipes into the ground near by and water into the tubes...so water goes right down to the roots.