Rhubarb Question

[broadway]

Hi Folks,

I grew rhubarb from seed this year and took advice about not using in the first year.

The question I have is do I now cut them back ready for next year?

[broadway]

I think I've found the answer. I'll leave them to rot down

[Flummery]

Yep! I never cut my rhubarb down. It looks quite ratty at the moment but the crowns will benefit.

[bobleponge]

BW
I dont cut mine down or do anything to it really. Just leave it, cut some when its ready to eat, chuck the leaves in the compost and it just grows. Its almost a weed in my garden it grows that well.

[broadway]

thanks folks

[Demeter]

Does it die down completely over winter??

The reason I ask is that I recently planted some (couple of weeks ago) - it had been in the pot for a bit longer than I was hoping to leave it, and was a bit pot bound and looking sorry for itself, just one leaf left - I was hoping it would perk up once planted out, but now that one leaf has rotted away as well. I assumed the plant had died, but prompted by this thread I'm starting to wonder whether it might just be going dormant for winter (would that happen this early?) - so is it worth waiting until spring to see if it all comes back to life?? Or should I dig it up and get a new plant?!

[coomber]

Does it die down completely over winter??

The reason I ask is that I recently planted some (couple of weeks ago) - it had been in the pot for a bit longer than I was hoping to leave it, and was a bit pot bound and looking sorry for itself, just one leaf left - I was hoping it would perk up once planted out, but now that one leaf has rotted away as well. I assumed the plant had died, but prompted by this thread I'm starting to wonder whether it might just be going dormant for winter (would that happen this early?) - so is it worth waiting until spring to see if it all comes back to life?? Or should I dig it up and get a new plant?!

Mine have died back, I would leave it until spring it may well be ok

[Demeter]

Mine have died back, I would leave it until spring it may well be ok

That's hopeful news, thanks! - it might save me a fiver

PS is that pob on your avatar?
PPD durh - just noticed it actually says Pob at the bottom lol - happy days...

[lottie dolly]

i think you will find it has gone to bed for the winter,i mark it's whereabouts as well,as nothing will be seen of it until the spring

[coomber]

PS is that pob on your avatar?
PPD durh - just noticed it actually says Pob at the bottom lol - happy days...

Yay pob rocks

[Flummery]

It will go missing in action completely for the next few months. I find it useful to mark its whereabouts (it's in an enclosed bed but I still never remember quite where!) by dolloping a good portion of home-made compost on it. It's a greedy feeder and responds well to lots of compost or manure. It's less likely to run early to seed.

[Demeter]

It will go missing in action completely for the next few months. I find it useful to mark its whereabouts (it's in an enclosed bed but I still never remember quite where!) by dolloping a good portion of home-made compost on it. It's a greedy feeder and responds well to lots of compost or manure. It's less likely to run early to seed.

Right - I'll dump some manure on top at the w/end then I've also marked the spot with a label but those things do seem to get pulled out of the ground by children more often than not...

I'm feeling quite optimistic now about the poor old rhubarb, and certainly won't dig it up at least until spring lol!!

Now I really want to get another plant for the lottie... Would like to chat up one of the other plotholders to see if anyone's planning to divide their rhubarb in the near future, but the ones near me are hardly ever there when I am. Sigh.