Rhubarb likes to be treated badly. Really badly. Here you see my rhubarb bed - the small plant bottom left, is one that was already in situ. The other bigger plants, are all from one that I dug up back in November as it was in a prime sunny location which I needed for sun-hungry plants. I thought the rhubarb would do well in the shady spot behind the shed. Ahem. Well, ok, truth is, I thought it'd do alright there and couldn't think of anything else that'd be happy in a spot that only gets about 10 minutes of sunshine each day.
I carefully & studiously read up on what to do, and found out that it was good to dig up the crown, split it, and let the frost get to it before replanting.
And then I did something completely different.
Nowhere did I read the advice dig up the crown some time in late November as best you can (leaving some of the root behind probably) hack into a dozen pieces with a spade, leave out in an exposed place for 2 months of the coldest winter in 30 years, allowing it to be buried in snow twice. Then in early-Feb think "Oh heck - rhubarb pieces are still sitting out by the side of the shed - better try & plant it to see if it survives". Which is what I did - and just look at how jolly & perky it is! The one on the right gets a bit battered by the wind as it whips round the corner of the shed but I'll keep an eye on it & see how it gets on - may move that one again eventually. I bet it'll love it even better if I wait till the wind has snapped off ALL the stalks.
Sunday, 11 April 2010
Masochistic Psychotic Rhubarb
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My rhubarb is in it's second year now, so although I haven't yet tasted it, I'm hoping to take a few stems this year for a cumble.
ReplyDeleteI love plants that can take a beating. I remember my brother and using swinging golf clubs at my mother's plant: didn't phase it. My rhubarb is only a year old, so no harvesting for me yet. I'm just glad moose don't eat it.
ReplyDeleteChristine in Alaska
Wow... I think I need to grow rhubarb just for the heck of it, since it can withstand anything! By the way, I like your post title.:)
ReplyDeleteGolf Clubs? Moose? I think I should do the kind thing and dig up my rhubarb and transplant it to Christine's garden in Alaska...
ReplyDeleteRhubarb should be recommend to all new gardeners - to give them some confidence ;)
ReplyDeleteThese stalks look yummy!
Rhubarb is difficult to get rid of - we had some growing in a grass path on our plot and we kept digging up most of it each year but back it came. I think we have finally rid our paths of it but we do grow plenty for cropping too. We have three or four different varieties.
ReplyDeleteit might be prudent though to whisper an apology and give your rhubarb a hug and an extra spade of compost to make amends?
ReplyDeleteThey display way too many ASBO-ish characteristics to appreciate any kind of physical interaction (other than the pulling off of stalks at some point in the not too distant future). But I will confess to (carelessly) tossing a spadeful of well-rotted horse manure around each of the crowns.
ReplyDeleteJust saying Hello. Hope you have a great gardening year.
ReplyDelete