Rhubarb health

Deub

Hi all,

I planted in March a rhubarb bought from a garden center. I don’t remember the variety but it is an early one.

I made sure not to bury the crown of the plant. It did well until July. In August, some leaves started not to look good and 2 died. I was away 2 weeks during that month and watered it several times (once or twice/week) when I was back. Since beginning of September it started to lose the rest its leaves and lost the last one this week end.

The crown doesn’t seem to be rotten. Do you think it still has a chance to come back in spring?

mollymac57

Yes it should. It’s said that it’s best not to harvest it in its first year in any case.

Jim_Hodge

As it's an early variety, it may just be finished for this year. Any chance of a picture?

Deub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119636873#Comment_119636873

Thanks. I haven’t harvested it this year.

Deub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119636877#Comment_119636877

Here is a picture

Deub

you need to rotate the picture 90 degrees clockwise

Jim_Hodge

Looks fine. Give it a mulch of compost next spring.

Deub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119637768#Comment_119637768

Thanks. I have already put some but will add more next spring

wildwillow

Yes it’s fine. Just needs a good covering of good rich compost. Don’t over harvest next year either as the dryness this summer would have given the plant a tough time.

Deub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119638065#Comment_119638065

Thanks for the info. I don’t plan on taking some until I see it is doing well. No drama if I don’t harvest any next year.

Deub

Update. The plant has sprung into life and it has already 5/6 leaves out. Thanks all for the inputs!

Dr Karl

Your variety of rhubarb sounds like it is Timperley Early. It is actually very easy to grow rhubarb from seed and a lot cheaper than buying crowns, 50 seeds for less than €5.00. I got Victoria rhubarb seeds in the UK a few years ago for 99p and it was Suttons and not an unknown brand of seeds. Plus there is more varieties to choose from in seeds.

magicbastarder

also worth pointing out that the vast majority of people will only need one or two crowns, and often the easiest way to get a plant is from someone you know who is dividing one.

Deub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120275030#Comment_120275030

I think it is the variety I bought. It is cheaper to buy seeds but I only needed one crown. I may get another one but not the same variety.

Edit: adding the picture