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Rhubarb a goner?

peter_cpeter_c Posts: 6
in Fruit & veg
I planted this Holsteiner crown at the beginning of April - although it's grown very slowly it did at least appear to be healthy and alive. In the last week though it seems to have taken a turn for the worse, yellowing and completely wilting. Nothing's changed other than we've finally had a drop of rain after quite a dry spell. The compost seems moist, but not soaking wet. Any suggestions for pulling it back from the brink? The other crown I planted at the same time only lasted a couple of weeks, I'm not having much luck!

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited June 2023
    Put it in some light shade, keep the compost damp but not soggy … and leave it alone for at least 12 months. 

    It’s not in multipurpose compost is it?  It needs something loam based like John Innes No 3 with a bit of homemade garden compost or multipurpose mixed in just to lighten it a bit. 

    If would be even better if you could plant it into a well-dug patch of soil and mulched with well-titter farmyard manure. 

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





  • peter_cpeter_c Posts: 6
    Thanks, I'll leave it be and hope for the best.
    It was general purpose compost, but I'd mixed in some home compost and manure. I'm stuck with pots really - the soil in the garden is pretty much rocks with a smattering of dust inbetween.
  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    I'd suggest your rhubarb will be doomed to failure unless you can construct an enormous container of some sort, keep it moist, and feed (very) well each season after the foliage has died back with compostable material.  If you ever dig a mature crown up, you'll see how much activity goes on below ground.
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