Rhubarb

[Chistine123]

Am having no success with growing rhubarb. We put a flower pot over the small shoots to force them up this year as each year they do not come to anything. They started to grow very thin shoots but today after I removed the flower pot, I noticed one of the precious shoots had broken off. Bird? My mother grows rhubarb year in year out and she has masses. What soil do they require or maybe the soil is too hard? We have tried adding manure to the soil but maybe not enough? What works? I would love to grow rhubarb!

[johnny7]

I have a crazy solution to your problem. If your mother has success growing rhubarb, why don't you ask her?

[Chistine123]

Johnny7 I did ask my mum and she says she does nothing - it just keeps growing year upon year. She has lived their for many years!

[Clanad]

My first guess is that you live in an area that dosen't experience winter temperatures under 30 degrees F very often. Rhubarb requires periods of cold weather to induce dormancy and then break dormancy in the spring.

If I were you I sweet talk Mom into giving you a goodly sized crown of her successful plants... if you do only put the crowns into the dirt about 2 or 3 inches...then don't harvest anything the next spring but wait for a year...

We have friends here in the western U.S. that actually try to kill the stuff off, since it's so hardy and proliferate. At any rate, good luck!

[Chistine123]

Clanad, thank you for that, it sounds a good plan to me! It will bring a smile to mums face at any rate! I will have a go but sad that it will take so long to get going!! Patience I say patience!

[carlton23]

Mix in plenty of manure in the winter months

[Chistine123]

thanks carlton23. I will try that! thanks!

[a-nigma]

A few years ago we bought 4 crowns of 2 different kinds of rhubarb and only one has really flourished although they have all had the same treatment. So sometimes the fault lies in the plant itself.
That said, rhubarb likes shade and water and being fed. I not only give ours manure each winter/spring, but also pour comfrey 'tea' on it regulary. This is made from steeping comfrey leaves in a lidded bucket. When it stinks its ready to be mixed with more water and given to plants. It is a great source of potash and loved by tomatoes, raspberries and rhubarb.
Sounds a great idea getting a crown from your mohter's clump.

[Chistine123]

Thank you a-nigma. You have given me some great ideas so I can only but try them out and see what happens. I am learning all the time!

[tamborine]

roots need lots of space - the pot maybe too small. They're best planted in the ground & left undisturbed.