Forum home› Fruit & veg
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Rhubarb

nicholas218nicholas218 Posts: 24
in Fruit & veg
1st post, but long term reader on here. I have been gardening for decades but am not very good at it and put down successes to luck, and have wasted quite a bit of time and money on disasters. 

I have a new patch of ground having had some conifers taken down. Its in a reasonably sunny south facing spot with a bit of shade from some other trees nearby. I've dug it over and taken out a lot of roots and weeds. The soil is poor and dried out so I was going to dig in some compost before planting anything at all.

 I'd very much like to plant some rhubarb there. I think the right time to do that is around the end of September? Is it likely to produce anything that can be turned into delicious pies and crumble?  I presume rhubrab crowns will be available at most garden centres?

Would be grateful for any advice. Especially if it's a crazy plan for someone of my limited skill.
«1

Posts

  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    Can't see why it wouldn't work as long as you provide enough moisture. Just wonder if it's better to get a potted rhubarb there must be quite a few in discounted displays in garden centres and DIY shops right now, instead of starting a bare root crown. Just expect to pick only a few stalks next year as the plant will have to grow strength and thicken and in the second year you can have a much larger crop.

    I planted one last year and it has been great in being both ornamental and delicious. 
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • nicholas218nicholas218 Posts: 24
    many thanks for the reply. struggling to find any rhubarb plants in our local garden centres in Norwich
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited September 2020
    @nicholas218  hi neighbour 😊 
    It’s too early in the year to find rhubarb in GCs ....it’s usually in Notcutt’s on the outer ring road in Jan/Feb ish. 

    However we’re sort of in Norwich and we have a large crown of Timperley Early. It’s a really good clone and has never run to seed in the 9 years since we planted it. We really must split it this winter so if you’d like a piece we could arrange to meet at Notcutts  car park in the New Year (we live nearby) and you can have a decent piece and very welcome. 


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





  • nicholas218nicholas218 Posts: 24
    That's very generous. I'm in Bracon Ash. I tried Notcutts this morning but couldn't get in as someone had burnt something in the kitchen.  
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited September 2020
    Oh dear!  Not the first time! 🤣 My OH works on the Notcutts site (for a different business) but he's not at work today ... he'll have to find out from colleagues what went on.  
    Give me a nudge in January if you still want rhubarb and we'll arrange something.  It'll make me split it ... it really must be done ... it's huge ... really good rhubarb too.  In the meantime you can be digging lots of manure etc into the planting site  :)

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





  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147


    This is it a couple of summers ago and it’s grown since then. You can see it needs splitting ... you’ll be doing me a favour 😉 

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





  • BigladBiglad Posts: 3,265
    What a whopper!  :o
    East Lancs
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited September 2020


    This is it today ... who needs a gunnera?



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





  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    I bet you're sick of rhubarb desserts by now 😂
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited September 2020
    Well, there’s always chutney, and relish, and wine .... but one of the reasons it does do well is that we don’t over-pick. 

    Never take more than one third of the stalks, stop picking in early July and water well and deeply. 

    Mulch when the ground is good and damp in Oct/Nov and with FB&B in early Feb.  Mulch again in spring. 

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





Sign In or Register to comment.