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Gardening

Rhubarb

(12 Posts)
tanith Mon 29-Mar-21 15:06:13

I’ve never known my Rhubarb to flower this early before, it usually does it near picking time. Now every small crown which have just begun to grow again and they are all sprouting flowers. I know they need to be picked but will it still grow lots of nice stalks this season?

ExD Mon 29-Mar-21 15:10:43

I think so. Rhubarb reacts to light, had it been a particularly bright Spring? - that's the only reason I can think of.
(off to check mine!)

Susan56 Mon 29-Mar-21 15:56:19

Yes,I’m sure it will.Ours is ready for picking too.
Last year my husband cut ours right back a couple of times as it was huge and it came back stronger both times.

Farmor15 Mon 29-Mar-21 19:48:36

The only time my rhubarb flowered was when it was stressed by being in too dry a place. I moved it to a cooler, damper part of garden and it hasn't flowered since. Also, it might need to be divided. Although flowering doesn't harm it, there will be fewer stalks produced.

growstuff Mon 29-Mar-21 19:54:22

I don't think my rhubarb has ever flowered. If it has, the flowers must have been tiny. It produces stalks for months.

3dognight Mon 29-Mar-21 21:32:51

I think if if you want lovely big stalks for puddings, crumble, etc., then you should not allow it to flower. All its strength goes into flowering. Having said that, mine flowered last year and still seems lush this year.

3dognight Mon 29-Mar-21 21:35:13

Grow stuff ,

You would know if it flowered, it is a huge dominant flower very strange and alien looking!

Callistemon Mon 29-Mar-21 21:43:31

I didn't know that rhubarb flowered!

EllanVannin Mon 29-Mar-21 21:51:59

The flowers look like large " growths" full of seeds. They should be cut off.

Slummymummy Mon 29-Mar-21 22:08:53

Something to make you all smile. Years ago my Father in law handed me a bucket, telling me to pick up some horse manure that was in the middle of the road. He informed me that it was for the rhubarb! I handed back the bucket and told him, when he comes to my home we put custard on ours!

tanith Mon 29-Mar-21 22:27:02

Thanks everyone I think might be too dry where it’s planted but I really don’t have another place to put it.

rubysong Tue 30-Mar-21 08:33:21

I picked up a bucketful of horse droppings from the road yesterday and got the same response from DH (about custard). It is a quiet road but I had to be quick before a car ran over it. Now I have to keep it for 6 months before I put it on the rhubarb.