Guernsey Donkey2 , I sowed mine in March they took a while to germinate in fact I didn't think they were going to but once they did and they weather turned warmer they just grew and you can see some of the results. On the packet it says you can sow them in February into the ground under a cloche. I sowed mine in 4 inch pots in late March early April kept them damp and left them on the windowsill. I wonder if you leave it to go to seed would it either weaken the plant or would the plant die once it's produced seeds. If you have a few plants maybe try it with just one as you don't want to lose all your plants and you wouldn't need loads of seeds.
I grew mine from seed years ago, sown indoors in March like any other seeds. Make when you plant them out make sure you give them lots of space, don’t be fooled by little plants, they grow very big. don’t let it go to seed, cut it off as close to the plant as you can.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
And don’t harvest them at all in their first year and only lightly in their second year, in order that the crown can build up. I never take any stalks after July for the same reason.
If the crown isn’t allowed to build up and store enough energy to over-winter successfully, that is when the plant will attempt to reproduce itself by producing flowers and seed.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I have four plants at the allotment purchased last year as 1 year old crowns and was advised to not harvest this year to give them time to establish in the soil and new home.
They are one each of, "Victoria" "Livingstone" "Stockbridge Arrow" and "Polish Raspberry" this will give us stems almost all year.
"You don't stop gardening because you get old, you get old because you stop gardening." - The Hampshire Hog
Hampshire Hog, Mine were grown from seed so only just over 4 months since sown. I won't be harvesting till 2021. I think these are a mid season so might look for one early and own later crown.
Thank you for the link Lyn, have put it in my online gardening folder. With free P&P if you buy 5 packs of seed that good. Lady I know is going into one of those retirement villages and she has just given me 10 large pots so will need thing to go in them next year.
We have just realized that at least one third of our veg patch is going to be in full shade for most of the day next year as the new houses with roofs that are so high they will blot out most of our sunshine grrrrrr. Rhubarb seem to be able to cope with shade so my first thought was to plant a row of it (we already have two now established crowns growing happily in the shade). Buying crowns is expensive so I am thinking seeds may be the answer. Thanks for all the helpful tips. I will have rhubarb on my seed buying list for next year.
Next year Guernsey Donkey2, I have already bought some seeds ready for next year. The use by date is good and they were reduced so why not along with the site Lyn added I will be saving a few pennies on next year fruit/veg and flower seeds.
Definitely worth growing from seed only a year to wait, although the one I had says pick in the first year, I waited till 2nd yer they were big plants by them.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
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don’t let it go to seed, cut it off as close to the plant as you can.
I never take any stalks after July for the same reason.
If the crown isn’t allowed to build up and store enough energy to over-winter successfully, that is when the plant will attempt to reproduce itself by producing flowers and seed.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
They are one each of, "Victoria" "Livingstone" "Stockbridge Arrow" and "Polish Raspberry" this will give us stems almost all year.
"You don't stop gardening because you get old, you get old because you stop gardening." - The Hampshire Hog
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VEGETABLE-RHUBARB-GLASKINS-PERPETUAL-80-FINEST-SEEDS-FREE-UK-P-P/370822043187?epid=1676699287&hash=item5656b75633:g:47gAAMXQY8JRgjUM