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Rhubarb

ken

By Ken

Greater Manchester, United Kingdom

I know that this is a bit off topic but dos anyone have experience in the growing of rhubarb?
I was given a rhubarb root a year ago and it is growing fine I pulled a few sticks yesterday looking forward to my own organic rhubarb pie.
Washed it trimmed it stewed it with plenty of sugar but when I came to taste it there was a distinct unpleasant earthy flavour.
Has any one else ever come across this? And is there anything too be done other than digging up the huge clump of rhubarb and throwing it away?
Kind regards Ken…




Answers

 

I have a weedy rhubarb in the garden so I got some seeds and have grown 4 plants. I love rhubarb. Yours is probably past its best. throw it out and grown your own.

4 Jun, 2008

 

Don't chuck it yet. Sometimes when rhubarb is split up it takes a while for it to come back. If you can, leave it for another year. It is a HUGE feeder so give it lots of manure ( I like mushroom.) - I have just dug up a massive clump and split it into 6 good sized pieces and will leave it until next year before pulling any. Hope this helps. Barb

4 Jun, 2008

 

The best time to dig up rhubarb is in the late Autumn into winter when the leaves have died back and leave the roots exposed then plant the roots at the beginning of Spring. The only thing I can suggest is that it needs another year to develop then try it again. I grew some rhubarb from seeds called Champagne and that was some rhubarb...delicious. The only other thing is try growing it in a large pot. LindaK.

4 Jun, 2008

 

I have Red Champagne, too. I read that you should not pull for eating until the plant is 3 years' old, which mine is now. Was just thinking about trying some, although I also read that no more than 1/3 of the stalks should be removed (don't know whether this is correct or not, though).Also, it was in a pot, but nearly drowned last year with all the rain. I planted it out alongside the potatoes, and it is now 3 times the size it was in the pot, probably because of the rotted manure.

5 Jun, 2008

 

my mother in law used to cover hers and let them grow in the dark by covering it with a tin bath, dont know if that would help but she swore by it.

6 Jun, 2008

 

I know that many people recommend putting horse manure on their rhubarb - but I prefer custard myself !!!!
(Old ones are the best)

8 Jun, 2008

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