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Rhubarb sprouting- what to do next?

ErgatesErgates Posts: 2,953
in Fruit & veg
I bought a rhubarb crown last autumn but didn’t get round to planting it in the garden until last month. I’ve put it in a flower bed where it will have plenty of room. While checking for storm damage yesterday, I see there are two new leaves above ground. Very exciting! What, if anything, do I need to do with it now? Can it be left alone to get on with it, or does it need some care? I’m not really growing it specifically as a crop, more as a foliage plant with hopefully the benefit of an occasional rhubarb crumble!
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  • AstroAstro Posts: 433
    It is usual that it is sprouting now and will be fine to just get on with it. I can't speak for everyone but I've never known anyone protect rhubarb, though some people do cover it for forcing. 
  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    Ergates  I think you'll find you've held it back for a season?  As I understand it, once one season's growth has died back, the crown quietly absorbs as much nutrition as it can from the soil around it.  This prepares it to burst forth in spring and give you new growth but, as you've not planted it until fairly recently, it'll feel starved?  My advice will be to spread as much compost etc. round it as you can find and leave it alone for the summer.  Once it has again died back, pile on as much food as you can to build up a good reserve for 2023.  If you can't resist the temptation, maybe take one feed this year but keep it to a minimum.
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    I would feed and leave this year,let it build up
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Mulch it … keep it watered through the summer so it doesn’t dry out. Otherwise it’ll be fine just left to itself. They’re tough as old boots … they come from Siberia 😊 

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





  • ErgatesErgates Posts: 2,953
    Thanks for all the advice. Can I give it some liquid feed, as well as mulching round it, or would that overstimulate it? Is that a thing?
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I'd just let it settle and get its roots reaching down.  If you don't pick any stalks (and you shouldn't for at least it's first year) the leaves will photosynthesise and feed the crown ... it doesn't really need feeding.  :)

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





  • ErgatesErgates Posts: 2,953
    Thanks, all.
  • pclark42pclark42 Posts: 186
    Just out of hibernation folks..Rhubarb yes well yesterday I was planting something when my trowel hit some sort of root, and up came a Rhubarb crown, I had totally forgotten the 3 plants I had grown from seed last year, I quickly replanted it, will it be OK do you think, I have marked out the area where they are so as not to disturb, my first time with The old Rhubarb, is it normal for them to totally disappear below ground during Winter ?
  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    Yes.  They invariably do disappear, but I doubt you'll have harmed yours too much.
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    I would just heap as much farmyard manure as you can lay your hands on,  over the crown and leave severely alone for another 12 months. If you are growing for foliage only the flowers are quite interesting, if you want to crop from it, remove the flower stem before the buds break. 
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