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Gardeners’ Forum: “rhubarb”

• rhubarb

  Posted by Ronald Valois on Sunday, May 20, 2007 1:14 pm ADT

  Rhubarb is supposed to be one of the easiest plants to grow...I guess it will say something about my gardenning skills but I have a lot of problems growing any. I have bought roots(?) on 4 different occasions (2 plants per package). Only 1 managed to survive but it hardly produces. After 4 years now it grows about 15 stems that are hardly big enough to use and goes to seed. If anyone has suggestions I would appreciate advice (or if I'm not the only one with a similar problem I wouldn't feel SO incompetent lol).

  • re: rhubarb

    Posted by Marge McInnis on Monday, May 21, 2007 10:27 pm ADT

    I put lots of compost on the bed in late fall or early spring . (also some scrap iron) I don't know what that does if anything , but I remember as a child that an old horseshoe or some iron rod would be stuck into the rubarb patch. I think your problem could be letting it go to seed , I never let mine go to seed , I cut them of as soon as I first see them. I have lots of rhubarb for myself and all my friends. So it works for me. Good luck..

  • re: rhubarb

    Posted by PJ on Tuesday, May 22, 2007 1:55 am ADT

    At my previous residence, I could not grow rhubarb because of the rocky soil that was continually dry. My garden now has better soil which we amend with compost and rhubarb grows like a weed. So, determine your soil composition and amend it if possible. It may be worth your while to dig a big hole, fill with the amended soil and plant a new root. If you have cold winter conditions, mulch with sawdust or shavings and your rhubarb will be one of the first plants showing growth in the spring.

  • re: rhubarb

    Posted by James Ely on Saturday, June 2, 2007 9:45 am ADT

    Can a rhubarb plant be too old to produce anymore and that is why it goes to seed?????

  • re: rhubarb

    Posted by Ken McKee on Saturday, July 21, 2007 2:14 pm ADT

    Dig root out, let dry for one week. Dig hole two feet sq. Place one foot old manure, then soil/ plant. You will be amazed, at the size it will grow.