[carlrmj]

      I have loads of new growth ,shoots and leaves about 12 inches tall. This is the first time i've noticed it this active at this time of
      year.
       I know it's been quite mild ,and rhubarb is very hardy ,but will a prolonged cold period ( and snow ) not kill the new growth off.

         Cheers Carl

[maddave]

I do believe Rhubarb needs a frost to awaken the crowns and get them growing, so they are very hardy.  You should stick a bucket or dark pot over the growth which will force the rhubarb and you can then harvest sweet stalks about March (someone can correct me here on this if I am wrong!)

 

[allotmentann]

You can force your rhubarb as long as it is more than a year old and as long as you give it at least a year to recover between forcings. 

[bayleaf]

Yes carl, my rhubarb is on the move earlier than normal as well. IF we get a few hard frosts the leaves/stalks might be set back a bit but rhubarb is as tough as anything and it will only slow it down. If you want early stalks then force it but it does mean resting the crown afterwards. I'm prepared to wait.

[3 allotments]

Iv'e just put an old dustbin over my rhubarb as it is about 6" tall now there is 7 crowns on it,cant wait lovely fresh sweet  rhubarb come march/april

[Kate and her Ducks]

Some of mine has not gone to sleep yet!

[peedee555]

i read spmewhere that rhubarb originally came from siberia so not sure that abit of frost would hurt it

[bayleaf]

No it won't but it does brown the leaves sometimes and growth slows down. The plant needs a period of dormancy and it comes out of dormancy after a period of cold weather, probably linked to its origins around Siberia. That's why the Wakefield triangle is so good for growing rhubarb as the soil there gets cooler quicker there than anywhere in the country as the daylight shortens in autumn. So you actually want frosts in autumn for good rhubarb crops. Apparently commercial growers there start measuring the soil temperature from early October at about four inches depth. They take a reading every morning at 9 am and every degree below 49 Fahrenheit counts as one degree. They have found that early season varieties like Timperley early are ready to break dormancy at 200 units, whereas mid season varieties need 400 units, and late season varieties like Victoria and Stocksbridge Arrow need 500 units. I don't know where that leaves you Katie as it sounds like your Livingstone variety hasn't had a period of dormancy at all!!