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Rhubarb already!

• Message 1. 

  Posted by poppy (U1168928) on Monday, 27th February 2012

  This is the first time I have had any success with rhubarb. Previously I have put it in the garden and it has always died on me but last year I put it in a large pot and now I have several stems growing at great speed. I am anxious that it is too soon and that yet again I will lose the plant if we have a spell of really cold weather. Should I cover it over, move the pot or pick the stems. Any advice would be appreciated please.

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Monday, 27th February 2012

  It's not too soon for rubarb to start showing growth when you consider by the end of July the picking season is over. Mines already several inches high, it's grown in the roots of a hedge and sheltered so can't be moved and won't be covered if frost is forcast. Rubard is very hardy.
  
  If it's been in a pot over winter it should be ok but if you have a futher frost and are worried moving the pot into a sheltered spot won't do rubarb any harm. It's to early to pick the stems I usually wait till they are a foot or more tall.
  
  
  
  

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by jo4eyes (U13654107) on Tuesday, 28th February 2012

  No it'll be fine. Agree to move it to shelter if nec & depends on your location.
  
  Are you sure not worth trying again actually in the ground? Rhubarb is a greedy feeder, so if your soil is light & sandy, then it wont be happy. Otherwise any decent garden soil shpuld be ok.
  They appreciate a good mulch, keeping the crowns free, in the autumn & a feed in spring when starting into growth.
  Also dont 'force' a clump in its' first year of growing, be it in a pot or ground, so it can get established without stress. Then you can do alternate years unless you really feed it well every year. J.
  
  

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by poppy (U1168928) on Wednesday, 29th February 2012

  Thank you so much for replies. I did put two crowns in the ground also as well as the one in the pot and yet again the two in the garden have disappeared! That is why I was anxious not to lose the potted one. I think my soil is particularly bad. It is flinty and full of bits of slate. I have spent years trying to improve it but short of digging out masses of soil and replacing it there is not much I can do. I have tried little "islands" of all purpose soil here and there but it soon gets all mixed in. Thank you again for advice.

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Wednesday, 29th February 2012

  If you leave the area alone for a few more weeks where the crowns are which you put in the ground, they may re-appear.
  
  I planted new crowns a couple of years ago and they too disappeared only to appear afew weeks after the established rubarb was well underway. It's worth waiting.
  
  

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