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Old 01-09-2008, 02:42 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening
Rusty Hinge 2 Rusty Hinge 2 is offline
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Default Rhubarb: transplanting advice

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from jal contains these words:

Anyone got advice for sharing a rhubarb plant?


3 or 4 colleagues at work expressed an interest when I offered to split
and share our giant rhubarb plant.


Last question: can rhubarb be grown successfully in a pot (one colleague
asked).


I moved this question to the top for reasons which will become obvious.

Forget growing rhubarb (properly) in a pot, unless you have one half as
deep again as a dustbin, and twice the diameter. You might - just
*MIGHT* get away with it in a big plastic dustbin, but expect to be
disappointed with the results.

I split off some roots about 4 weeks ago and planted them in large pots,
in a mix of soil, all-purpose compost, and a smidgin of 6X.


You split off the outside coronets from the crown, and (generally) throw
the middle away.

However, you can replant it and force it next spring if you have the room.

The resulting plants *seem* ok, in that the couple of leaves that were
attached remain reasonably healthy looking, though no new shoots have
appeared. (But yes, I know rhubarb is on the way out by this time of
year.)


I'm going to pass on these pots in a few days, but I'm wondering if my
colleagues will ultimately be disappointed: does anyone have any further
comments on what I should do or should have done?


The plants should be OK.

To get really satisfactory rhubarb, first dig a hole two feet by two
feet and four feet deep.

Get old leather, woollens, etc. (after jumble sales is a good source)
and from the butchers or your stockpot, old bones. Put all these in the
bottom of your pit: they will slowly release nutrients into the soil.

Another good source of slow-release fertiliser is hair clippings from
the barber.

As you replace the soil in the pit, mix it thoroughly with well-rotted
compost and/or manure, and bonemeal (Blood, fish and bone is even
better).

You will end up with a small mountain... Dig a deepish crater in the
top and plant the crown. Leave a substantial rim round the crater, 'cos
rhubarb really likes a *LOT* of water.

Water the crown in, then keep adding water, it is difficult to overdo it.

It is *VERY IMPORTANT* not to pull a single stalk during the first year
after transplanting. If you do, you *WILL* weaken the crown and the
yield will be reduced, and it is unlikely to properly recover.

--
Rusty
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