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Rhubarb

lily6lily6 Posts: 79
in The potting shed
Anyone had their first Rhubarb harvest (not forced)? 
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Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited March 2020
    Oh yes, we've been pulling our Timperley Early for a few weeks now ... crumbles have been eaten and OH's work colleagues have had several rucksacks full.  It's beautifully sweet this year  :D

    Ill look for the pic I took ...

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Here it is ... first picking this year 11th Feb



    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • lily6lily6 Posts: 79
    Right that's it, wellies on and crumble making shall commence! 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Enjoy  :)

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • PurpleRosePurpleRose Posts: 538
    I love rhubarb and having my first attempt at growing it this year. I have been told that the first year you dont get a harvest. Is that correct?

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Yes, I'm afraid you need to leave it to grow this year, and then next year just take a few pickings. 

    In following years I never take more than one third of the stems at a time, and I stop picking at the end of June, to allow the crown of the plant to build up strength to get through the winter and produce plenty of stems in the following spring. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    Sadly, yes.  The plant needs all its leaves to build up its strength - if you cut them off it can't photosynthesise.
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • PurpleRosePurpleRose Posts: 538
    Thank you  :) I thought so. 


  • Digging-itDigging-it Posts: 117
    I have one rhubarb plant and it’s getting quite large I would like to split it and get more plants, do you think I could dig up a part of it to replant and still harvest from the ‘mother’ plant? Is it too late now?
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited March 2020
    I wouldn't do it at this time of year ... best to split it when it's dormant in the winter.  

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basics/techniques/growfruitandveg_growingrhubarb1.shtml

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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