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rhubarb

• Message 1. 

  Posted by Gem (U13964749) on Saturday, 16th April 2011

  My new allotment neighbour was digging up all her rhubarb yesterday, they don't like it and wanted the space. Anyway OH had a quick word and they were only to happy to let him have it.
  
  Q1 - it hasn;t been cropped this year, looks like it was just left my the old owners. it has this years leaves and what looks like a flower spike coming up out of the middle. ???
  
  Q2 will in light of above, will it be any good.
  
  Q3 - how do we plant - crop etc etc
  
  thanks
  gem
  

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Italophile (U12516505) on Saturday, 16th April 2011

  Sounds fine to me. Lucky you. For starters, take off the flower. The plant has better uses for its energy than growing a flower.
  
  Rhubarb prefers full sun but will handle part shade. Pick your spot and prepare it thoroughly. Unless you decide to move it, it will occupy the spot for 10 years or more. Dig deeply, dig in as much aged manure, leaf mould, compost as you can. It's the last chance you'll get to improve the soil for a long time.
  
  Spread the roots, cover them well, tamp down, but make sure the crown isn't more than a couple of inches underground and is more loosely covered. Water well and keep things damp - not wet - during the growing season.

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Oldends (U13875463) on Saturday, 16th April 2011

  After planting all or part of the root and watering it well, leave it alone this year apart from removing any flowering sticks. Do not pull any sticks, but leave the plant to get well and truly established. Next year you can pull a few sticks and from the following year you can pick what you want.
  
  If it's a big clump, I'd be tempted to split it into two or three clumps then plant and treat as before. At the start of year 3 you can force one plant for it's tender, young and early sticks. Don't pick any more from that plant but harvest from the other[s]. In year 4, force a different plant and so on ad nauseam.

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