Last year DH planted two rhubarb crowns in our small vegetable plot. I had visions of rhubarb crumble with custard. Of course, we only had a few stems from them last year, just a taste of what is to come. They were cossetted through the winter with a straw mulch and, sure enough, started to burgeon with the onset of spring.
But now one of them is harbouring a strange growth...
I had no idea that rhubarb flowered! Well, I suppose I knew it must produce seeds some how, but I've never seen one do it. It is a very strange sort of flower, looking more like a romanesco cauliflower than anything else.
As a newbie rhubarb producer, I am a little baffled. What do I do with it? Do I cut it off so the plant can concentrate on producing stems? Do I leave it? Do any more green-fingered bloggers have any advice?
Hi there
ReplyDeleteMy understanding was you cut off rhubarb flowers as soon as they appear or else the plant will go to seed. That's what my Dad tells me and he has been gardening for 50 years!
Love your blog, by the way.
Donna
Thank you so much! I am going out there right away to attack it with some secateurs. Lesley x
DeleteYes, the flower spike has to be cut off - ours did it for the first time last year and the crown of Rhubarb is almost 40 years old ( has been divided up and shared out a number of times over the years)
ReplyDeleteI did cut the flower off and the crown has put on a fantastic spurt of growth. I was surprised to see it flower as it is such a young plant. I've had a few sticks off it now and I am hoping for a few more! Thanks for the help, Lesley x
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