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Old 08-05-2006, 10:27 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening
tenchman
 
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Default Rhubarb going to seed?

Hi Group,

My productive rhubarb has thrown up a large seed head, which has raised the
following questions.
1. Should it be removed and how?
2. Is it safe to keep harvesting the crop?
3. Is this a sign that the root needs splitting ( its been there for years)
4. Could it be overfed? (its growing next to the compost bin and gets a
regular supply compost leaching.

Please can anyone advise me on this.

Thanks in advance to all those that take the time to reply.


David.


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Old 09-05-2006, 12:48 AM posted to uk.rec.gardening
Henry
 
Posts: n/a
Default Rhubarb going to seed?


"tenchman" wrote in message
...
Hi Group,

My productive rhubarb has thrown up a large seed head, which has raised
the following questions.
1. Should it be removed and how?
2. Is it safe to keep harvesting the crop?
3. Is this a sign that the root needs splitting ( its been there for
years)
4. Could it be overfed? (its growing next to the compost bin and gets a
regular supply compost leaching.

Please can anyone advise me on this.

Thanks in advance to all those that take the time to reply.


David.


Hello

The general view seems to be that if the rhubarb plant is flowering, then it
is putting resources into producing the flower head that could be used
producing edible stalks. As such, most people cut them off as soon as they
appear.

I have read other peoples posts that state that the rhubarb flower is such a
sight that it should be left purely for aesthetic purposes, and it will make
little difference to the plant.

I grew 4 rhubarb plants from seed last year, and all 4 flowered this year -
so I doubt it is a sign that the root needs splitting.

I have not harvested the flowering rhubarb this year as I feel it is not yet
strong enough (being only 1 year old). I may take off the odd stalk or two
in a few weeks. I have a few more established plants proving me with crumble
filling! However - if the plants had been older, I would have happily
harvested whilst flowering.

I cover my established rhubarb crowns with well rotted horse manure every
winter (of which I have an inexhaustible supply) - as such I doubt the
compost bin will be harming them - and is in fact probably benefiting them!

Hope this helps (Maybe I should spend more time posting and less time
lurking!).

Henry

Broadclyst
Exeter








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Old 09-05-2006, 09:46 AM posted to uk.rec.gardening
Brian Watson
 
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Default Rhubarb going to seed?


"tenchman" wrote in message
...
Hi Group,

My productive rhubarb has thrown up a large seed head, which has raised
the following questions.
1. Should it be removed and how?


I pull my flower heads out, but I think cutting it off near the ground would
work OK as long as rot couldn't get in.

2. Is it safe to keep harvesting the crop?


Yes.

3. Is this a sign that the root needs splitting ( its been there for
years)


Probably, but not neccesaily. I've had a crown of the stuff in the same
place for six yars and it grows like decorative Gunnera!

4. Could it be overfed? (its growing next to the compost bin and gets a
regular supply compost leaching.


Sounds good.

:-)

--
Brian


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Old 10-05-2006, 07:54 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening
Alan Holmes
 
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Default Rhubarb going to seed?


"tenchman" wrote in message
...
Hi Group,

My productive rhubarb has thrown up a large seed head, which has raised
the following questions.
1. Should it be removed and how?
2. Is it safe to keep harvesting the crop?
3. Is this a sign that the root needs splitting ( its been there for
years)
4. Could it be overfed? (its growing next to the compost bin and gets a
regular supply compost leaching.

Please can anyone advise me on this.


Not sure I'm really qualified to answer, but:-

I would remove it, the seed head that is, I don't think it will affect the
quality of the rhubarb which is left, but if you do eat it and you die, I'm
obviously wrong!(:-)

It would be helpfull to split the root but this is not the right time to do
it, wait until the late winter, early spring.

I would not think it is due to overfeeding, more like it's telling you to
split it.

Alan


Thanks in advance to all those that take the time to reply.


David.



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Old 11-05-2006, 11:49 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening
Henry
 
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Default Rhubarb going to seed?


"Alan Holmes" wrote in message
...

"tenchman" wrote in message
...
Hi Group,

My productive rhubarb has thrown up a large seed head, which has raised
the following questions.
1. Should it be removed and how?
2. Is it safe to keep harvesting the crop?
3. Is this a sign that the root needs splitting ( its been there for
years)
4. Could it be overfed? (its growing next to the compost bin and gets a
regular supply compost leaching.

Please can anyone advise me on this.


Not sure I'm really qualified to answer, but:-

I would remove it, the seed head that is, I don't think it will affect the
quality of the rhubarb which is left, but if you do eat it and you die,
I'm obviously wrong!(:-)

It would be helpfull to split the root but this is not the right time to
do it, wait until the late winter, early spring.

I would not think it is due to overfeeding, more like it's telling you to
split it.

Alan


Thanks in advance to all those that take the time to reply.


David.




Hello David

I doubt it is telling you to split it - most of my plants are 1 year old
(grown from seed) and they all flowered this year. The older established
plants that probably do need splitting did not flower!

Henry





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Old 12-05-2006, 09:21 AM posted to uk.rec.gardening
Maurice Hood
 
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Default Rhubarb going to seed?

"Henry" wrote in message



My productive rhubarb has thrown up a large seed head, which has raised
the following questions.


Could be down to the weather being dry and the plant

trying to replicate itself.


--
Posted via Mailgate.ORG Server - http://www.Mailgate.ORG
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Old 12-05-2006, 04:57 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening
Jupiter
 
Posts: n/a
Default Rhubarb going to seed?

On Thu, 11 May 2006 22:49:14 +0100, "Henry"
wrote:


"Alan Holmes" wrote in message
...

"tenchman" wrote in message
...
Hi Group,

My productive rhubarb has thrown up a large seed head, which has raised
the following questions.
1. Should it be removed and how?
2. Is it safe to keep harvesting the crop?
3. Is this a sign that the root needs splitting ( its been there for
years)
4. Could it be overfed? (its growing next to the compost bin and gets a
regular supply compost leaching.

Please can anyone advise me on this.


Not sure I'm really qualified to answer, but:-

I would remove it, the seed head that is, I don't think it will affect the
quality of the rhubarb which is left, but if you do eat it and you die,
I'm obviously wrong!(:-)

It would be helpfull to split the root but this is not the right time to
do it, wait until the late winter, early spring.

I would not think it is due to overfeeding, more like it's telling you to
split it.

Alan


Thanks in advance to all those that take the time to reply.


David.




Hello David

I doubt it is telling you to split it - most of my plants are 1 year old
(grown from seed) and they all flowered this year. The older established
plants that probably do need splitting did not flower!

Henry


Best thing is to break off the shoot before it even gets a chance to
flower. It's not a problem at all. If you are going to divide them
it's a good idea to lift the roots in early winter and leave on the
surface to get frosted and frozen a few times, then divide and replant
in early spring. When I've done that the resulting growth has been
luxuriant.

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Old 01-06-2012, 01:24 PM
Registered User
 
First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Jun 2012
Posts: 1
Unhappy

Quote:
Originally Posted by tenchman View Post
Hi Group,

My productive rhubarb has thrown up a large seed head, which has raised the
following questions.
1. Should it be removed and how?
2. Is it safe to keep harvesting the crop?
3. Is this a sign that the root needs splitting ( its been there for years)
4. Could it be overfed? (its growing next to the compost bin and gets a
regular supply compost leaching.

Please can anyone advise me on this.

Thanks in advance to all those that take the time to reply.


David.
Hi, I've just read this and the replies. I too have new plants (grown from seeds taken from an old plant) which have gone to seed already (May). I've cut them out and the affected crowns (the big ones!) will not now produce anything more this year. Does anyone know what conditions cause rhubarb to go to seed and how to prevent it?
Thanks for your help
Terry
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