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Is my 50 year old rhubarb unhappy?

Sue & MuttonSue & Mutton Posts: 125
in Fruit & veg
Hi, this is my late grandad's rhubarb that must be at least 50 years old. It's one of the few things that's always come with me on numerous house moves. I've never had it flower before - is it really unhappy (although looks ok and tastes delicious) and this is it's final hurrah? I'm tempted to let it do what it wants and flower - I will be pulling some later though. Thoughts?

Posts

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    It’s going to seed, caused by the weather,  cut the flower stem off as quick as you can, it’s not a sign of the rhubarb being finished. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    No!! Looks great,buy yes whopper of flower stalk needs to go quick
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I agree with @Lyn. Get rid of that flower stem
    (although as an artist I find it hard as they look magnificent ... but it must go ASAP). 

    Take it out at the base by twisting and pulling if possible, or cutting so it doesn’t leave a ‘stumpy stem’ which could rot. 
    The rhubarb looks fine ... it might be a response to the recent drought and as it’s got huge leaves like umbrellas I’d give it a couple of buckets of water at the base, even if we have had rain I get it’s pretty dry a few inches down.
    😊 

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





  • BigladBiglad Posts: 3,265
    Looks a cracker @Sue & Mutton

    If you follow d-fab's advice, you won't go far wrong - she knows her onions! (and rhubarb, of course ;))
    East Lancs
  • Sue & MuttonSue & Mutton Posts: 125
    I’ve  removed the stem, given it a water and had scrummy crumble for tea. Thanks all 
  • pkirsch2016pkirsch2016 Posts: 2
    Magnificent plant.
    Rhubarb grows wild, an endemic native, across the mountains around Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Dies back to nothing above ground during winter, and then shoots up during that short Northern summer. Stems of the wild plants are maybe 4-6 inches long, but the flavor is perfect stewed rhubarb. 
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    Welcome to the Forum @pkirsch2016 :)
    Don't think we've had a member in China before, but there are quite a few scattered elsewhere around the globe and new perspectives are always interesting.
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