What happened to my rhubarb?

Can anyone suggest what happened to my 'Raspberry Red' rhubard plant.  I checked it today as I couldn't see any new growth from the crown, so after some investigation I decided to dig it up.  Seems most of it was rotton/dead even the main roots but on the outer edges were some pinkish shoot appearing.  I chopped in half to get rid of the rotton bits and replanted into some refreshed soil/manure.  It was fine last year but after it had produced some good stalks it did produce a flower shoot which I promptly cut off before it flowered - did this exhaust it's energy?   It's been in for about 3 years.

Hi Lottiegob,
As David said it has been an exceptionally cold and long winter,
I replanted two manky roots from one place to another at the end of last year and they were showing no signs of sprouting a couple of weeks ago, so I emptied my darlik compost bins and put them over the rhubarb patches to force growth and low and behold yesterday there were 7 shoots popping up in one darlik and several more in the other.
Don't give up on them, as far as I know rhubarb is a bit like horseradish (one you've got, you'll have a hard job to get rid of it

Thanks everyone. Richie - I have also been growing more rhubarb from seed - Timperly Early.   Would be interested to know where you came across Victoria seeds as would like to try that variety.  Not had any success with Victoria corms though.  Is it true rhubarb likes a very cold spell in the winter?

Not sure if "likes" is appropriate but thay can tollerate a very harsh winter when established.

Hi Lottiegob,

D.T.Brown have Rhubarb Victoria seeds in stock and free postage too
http://www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk/catalogue/product/rhubarb-victoria/14968/
Hope this helps

Jabberwock

'true, rhubarb is as tough as old boots. I dug up a couple of crowns last October as I wanted to move them. I split it into a dozen pieces and left out through all the harsh weather we had in Dec & Jan. By last month, all the pieces were starting to bud, and now they're re-planted (gave some away) they're happily sprouting away. I'm not going to force any this year though - thought it'd been through enough trauma already 

'true, rhubarb is as tough as old boots. I dug up a couple of crowns last October as I wanted to move them. I split it into a dozen pieces and left out through all the harsh weather we had in Dec & Jan. By last month, all the pieces were starting to bud, and now they're re-planted (gave some away) they're happily sprouting away. I'm not going to force any this year though - thought it'd been through enough trauma already 

I agree, If the crown is not looking healthy forcing will not do it any good. Let it have a rest.