ross: Good advice to a rookie. You missed: don't pick after July.
My RHS membership number was <5,000, that shows I am no rookie.
I think that don't pick rhubarb after July advice is variety dependent. The variety I grow which was passed from my parent's neighbours to them and then on to me and back to my parents again after they left it get overgrown is a late starting type that I was always told could be harvested up to September and have done so without any problem. I have never watered it and had only a few leaves and nothing to really harvest at the end of this summer with very dry conditions but the crowns still look healthy and the ground is well hydrated again now so I see no reason it will not be back to full growth in the spring.
The best I have seen rhubarb growing is in the current position in my garden where I put it next to some rose bushes that the girlfriend's da got established before the house here was built. It is right next to a farm yard and literally had wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow of horse manure put on the ground where it has done so well. This process was started to benefit the roses but I have continued it since and the stalks can at times be about a metre long. I have seen it really struggle in my aunts garden which is well drained sand and I think your issue may be moisture retention in the soil but that's only a guess based on the details after your user name.
Lirio: That's an intersting addition to my store of information. I also think honey fungus may be why I can' t succeed with Hostas in the open garden.
Robaird: "Not after July" is a good rule of thumb. I have liked a rhubarb seen in Wisley trials calle" ± perpetual. I was going to try that, but am waiting until I am over this hurdle.
Meanwhile, these guys have a decorative role.
My daughter has recently given me a root from their monster. It's in the grey pot with white foxglove and forgetmenots. There was (were?) lots of root, but only 2 very small buds (plus a fat juicy bud broken off). It would have had a pot to itself if it had looked more promising. Let's see what happens.
location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand. "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
Lirio: That's an intersting addition to my store of information. I also think honey fungus may be why I can' t succeed with Hostas in the open garden.
Robaird: "Not after July" is a good rule of thumb. I have liked a rhubarb seen in Wisley trials calle" ± perpetual. I was going to try that, but am waiting until I am over this hurdle.
Meanwhile, these guys have a decorative role.
My daughter has recently given me a root from their monster. It's in the grey pot with white foxglove and forgetmenots. There was (were?) lots of root, but only 2 very small buds (plus a fat juicy bud broken off). It would have had a pot to itself if it had looked more promising. Let's see what happens.
I'm guessing those pots are designed for forcing an early crop of rhubarb which is something I have not done with mine. I remember another discussion on rhubarb on the forum here and length of time being harvested came up as being relevant to when to stop picking stalks. I'd imagine if the rhubarb is being forced to start early it would be better then to also stop harvesting sooner for the energy in the crown and root to build up for the following year.
Posts
Robaird: "Not after July" is a good rule of thumb. I have liked a rhubarb seen in Wisley trials calle" ± perpetual. I was going to try that, but am waiting until I am over this hurdle.
Meanwhile, these guys have a decorative role.
My daughter has recently given me a root from their monster. It's in the grey pot with white foxglove and forgetmenots. There was (were?) lots of root, but only 2 very small buds (plus a fat juicy bud broken off). It would have had a pot to itself if it had looked more promising. Let's see what happens.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."