Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: ruth82 on April 01, 2008, 23:04

Title: Rhubarb or Weed??
Post by: ruth82 on April 01, 2008, 23:04

Hi I took on my allotment in November and after what has been a long  winter of endless digging I have finally got it cleared.  However, in the last couple of months what looks like rhubarb has started to grow near my compost heap.  I spoke to someone at work about this and they said it is probably a weed and I should just dig it up.  How do I tell if it is a weed or the real thing? I've tried looking on the internet and not found anything.
By the way I don't even like rhubarb but it's just great to have something growing that isn't a dandelion!  :lol:

Title: Rhubarb or Weed??
Post by: iwantanallotment on April 01, 2008, 23:08

Can you get a pic?

Oh and welcome Ruth - just noticed this is your first post  :)

Title: Rhubarb or Weed??
Post by: ruth82 on April 01, 2008, 23:12

Thanks, :)

I'll try and remember to take my camera next time I go, but if I had to describe it it kind of looks like rhubarb (!) coming out of something that looks the cross between a large bulb and tree bark.  Not really helpful I know, I'll send pics soon.

Title: Rhubarb or Weed??
Post by: gobs on April 01, 2008, 23:13

You should find plenty of rhubarb pictures to compare on google images.

It's often grown in utility area,'cos it will grow anywhere and we don't like it either, but it is hard to kill. :lol:  And not invasive so can be for friend and family, good when nothing else comes along, you still can boast with the weed. :wink:  :lol:

Title: Rhubarb or Weed??
Post by: Aunt Sally on April 01, 2008, 23:24

I love rhubarb but I think a lot of people make the mistake of eating it at too late in the summer.  I only eat it early in the season while it is young tender and sweet and before it has much oxalic acid in the petioles.

Title: Rhubarb or Weed??
Post by: ruth82 on April 28, 2008, 22:32

Hi it's taken me a while but I finally remembered to take my camera to the allotment and this is what my rhubarb looks like...presuming it is rhubarb??!!

As I have said I can't stand the stuff but I have a few willing recipients lined up - but how do I know when to harvest it? It looks pretty huge to me already but I have no idea!!

(http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk45/ruthiepoothie82/LPIC0218.jpg)

(http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk45/ruthiepoothie82/LPIC0217.jpg)

Title: Rhubarb or Weed??
Post by: DD. on April 28, 2008, 22:34

That's certainly rhubarb!

I generally pull the stems when they are about 12" long, but you could get away with less.

Title: Re: Rhubarb or Weed??
Post by: vegmandan on April 28, 2008, 22:40

Quote from: "ruth82"

I spoke to someone at work about this and they said it is probably a weed and I should just dig it up.

You are lucky to work with Stevie Wonder.  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

Title: Rhubarb or Weed??
Post by: compostqueen on April 28, 2008, 23:00

:lol:

Title: Rhubarb or Weed??
Post by: ruth82 on April 28, 2008, 23:14

Ha ha :lol: I might take some in for her when its ready just to show her what rhubarb looks like! Lesson for the future, trust my instincts!

Title: Rhubarb or Weed??
Post by: Trillium on April 29, 2008, 03:30

:lol:  :lol: That's probably why it was close to the compost pile. Couldn't imagine anyone letting burdock plants grow there. (looks similar to rhubarb).

Title: Rhubarb or Weed??
Post by: slowef on April 29, 2008, 07:28

oh lucky lucky you I wish mine looked that good, I love Rhubarb.  Sell it if you don't want it its so expensive in the supermarket and its got no flavour from there anyway.  Yours will be so yummy

Title: Re: Rhubarb or Weed??
Post by: ziggy on April 29, 2008, 09:39

Quote from: "ruth82"

Hi I took on my allotment in November and after what has been a long  winter of endless digging I have finally got it cleared.  However, in the last couple of months what looks like rhubarb has started to grow near my compost heap.  I spoke to someone at work about this and they said it is probably a weed and I should just dig it up.  How do I tell if it is a weed or the real thing? I've tried looking on the internet and not found anything.
By the way I don't even like rhubarb but it's just great to have something growing that isn't a dandelion!  :lol:

:D we use it as ani weed ground cover.i think leaves can be used as fly killer too.

Title: Rhubarb or Weed??
Post by: littlelisa on April 29, 2008, 09:41

Rhubarb as an anti-weed cover? Do you mean the growing plant? Or the leaves? Explain please...

Title: Rhubarb or Weed??
Post by: ruth82 on April 29, 2008, 12:21

Anyone in the Cambridge area want some let me know, donations to Cancer Research  :)

Title: Rhubarb or Weed??
Post by: Stevens706 on April 29, 2008, 12:59

Even though you don’t like rhubarb, you can still use the leaves as an insecticide, once you have fermented them in water.

Title: Rhubarb or Weed??
Post by: ruth82 on April 29, 2008, 13:30

that sounds good, how do I do that then? soak in water in a warm place i presume but how long for? (sorry, new to all this gardening lark!)

Title: Rhubarb or Weed??
Post by: Stevens706 on April 30, 2008, 06:15

There are two ways
1.   Boil the leaves in a pan, leave to cool and strain
2.   Just place the leaves in a bucket etc, cover in water for a month or so to rot down (same method as with nettles for fertiliser), this is what I will be doing soon.
Google the subject and you will find loads of hits

Hope this helps

Title: Rhubarb or Weed??
Post by: DD. on April 30, 2008, 07:11

You forgot the warning - it stinks!!

Title: Rhubarb or Weed??
Post by: Stevens706 on May 02, 2008, 07:08

True, it does stink, I soak mine in a bucket out of the way down the allotment