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  • Picking Rhubarb

    From Polly@golly@pwllgloyw@gmail.com to uk.rec.gardening on Wed Mar 26 11:57:45 2025
    From Newsgroup: uk.rec.gardening

    Having bought a new crown of rhubarb last spring and watched it grow
    very well last year (but frustrated at not being allowed to pick it!) I
    am now looking forward to starting to pick for the first time. Question
    is: When to start? There is a good growth, with some sticks about a foot
    long, but not that thick at present. Ideally I would like to maximise
    the crop this year. Do I stay frustrated for anothe few weeks/month or
    can I start to enjoy?


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  • From Charlie Pridham@charlie@roselandhouse.co.uk to uk.rec.gardening on Thu Mar 27 10:39:58 2025
    From Newsgroup: uk.rec.gardening

    On 26/03/2025 11:57, Polly@golly wrote:
    Having bought a new crown of rhubarb last spring and watched it grow
    very well last year (but frustrated at not being allowed to pick it!) I
    am now looking forward to starting to pick for the first time. Question
    is: When to start? There is a good growth, with some sticks about a foot long, but not that thick at present. Ideally I would like to maximise
    the crop this year. Do I stay frustrated for anothe few weeks/month or
    can I start to enjoy?


    Been harvesting ours for 6 weeks now! a lot depends on where you are
    living and the length of stem. we dont force ours but you can if you
    want early crops. Just dont over do it while they are young plants
    --
    Charlie Pridham
    Gardening in Cornwall
    www.roselandhouse.co.uk
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  • From blenky@blenkinsopp@mail.com to uk.rec.gardening on Thu Apr 17 13:25:32 2025
    From Newsgroup: uk.rec.gardening

    On Thu, 27 Mar 2025 10:39:58 +0000, Charlie Pridham wrote:


    Been harvesting ours for 6 weeks now! a lot depends on where you are
    living and the length of stem. we dont force ours but you can if you
    want early crops. Just dont over do it while they are young plants

    Can I ask about mine please?

    I have several rhubarb plants and some are producing very thin stems this year.

    Last year the three worst affected were looking poor in comparison to the
    most RH one, but this year they have really gone pencil like.

    I fed and watered last year with seaweed/ chicken manure [commercial "fastgrow"] This year I have started with seaweed tea, a 10% ww brew made
    from soaking seaweed.

    The feeding is having a noticable effect on the grass, but not the
    rhubarb.

    These were planted four years ago and in the first and second years were healthy and productive.

    I have done nothing with the crowns, indeed none of the plants have really expanded so much I felt tempted to split them.

    I hope you dont mind my asking in this thread, but all I see on the net is water and feed, which I have done.
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  • From blenky@blenkinsopp@mail.com to uk.rec.gardening on Thu Apr 17 13:26:54 2025
    From Newsgroup: uk.rec.gardening

    On Thu, 27 Mar 2025 10:39:58 +0000, Charlie Pridham wrote:


    Been harvesting ours for 6 weeks now! a lot depends on where you are
    living and the length of stem. we dont force ours but you can if you
    want early crops. Just dont over do it while they are young plants

    Can I ask about mine please?

    I have several rhubarb plants and some are producing very thin stems this
    year.

    Last year the three worst affected were looking poor in comparison to the
    most RH one, but this year they have really gone pencil like.

    I fed and watered last year with seaweed/ chicken manure [commercial "fastgrow"] This year I have started with seaweed tea, a 10% ww brew made
    from soaking seaweed.

    The feeding is having a noticable effect on the grass, but not the
    rhubarb.

    These were planted four years ago and in the first and second years were healthy and productive.

    I have done nothing with the crowns, indeed none of the plants have really expanded so much I felt tempted to split them.

    I hope you dont mind my asking in this thread, but all I see on the net is water and feed, which I have done.

    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2