[HelenK]

Hi all,

I've done a search on here but couldn't quite find what I needed to know. We bought a very mature rhubarb crown from a lovely greengrocers in Bicester, it was in a big pot and has five or six big stalks coming off it, some over a couple of feet long with nice big leaves. I'm aware that rhubarb can be harvested from this time of year. The leaves have been getting more of a mottled red than green since we put it in the ground.

My question is (a bit stupid really!) if we harvest the big stalks now, will more start to come through soon? At the moment I don't see any news shoots coming from the centre of the crown. Will take a pic and put it up tonight so you can see, it's a very handsome plant!

Thanks all,
H x

[HelenK]

(bump!) 

[noshed]

They usually say don't harvest the first year. And only move them in the winter.
But the plants are pretty bomb-proof. The red mottling on the leaves is a sign of unhappiness - it is a virus I think but you can build the plant up so it doesn't wreck it.

Did you plant it with lots of compost etc in the hole? They do like a lot of that.
It might be in shock having been transplanted when not dormant so I would take off the bigger stalks and make sure it is well-watered. You will be able to eat those stalks.
The new shoots look like pale green eggs in the middle of the plant - they gradually unfurl followed by the stalk.
Leave any new stalks on it so it has a chance to establish itself. Mulch round it with some compost/well-rotted manure and even a handful of blood fish and bone or chicken manure pellets to give it a hand.
When it dies down in the autumn, tidy off the rotten stalks and give it a good mulch. It should be fine next year.

[Kate and her Ducks]

Perhaps the picture would have been a more courteous way of showing that you were still keen for an answer than just (bump!).

The world of gardening moves slowly and plants grow at their own rate. People will get back to you if they have an answer when they can. Good things come to those who wait.

[HelenK]

Sorry, I didn't have time to take a picture last week as my dog suddenly got very ill and nearly died.

[Aidy]

I have always been told as noshed explained not to harvest the first year, when you do harvest always leave a minimum of 4 stalks to each crown and don't harvest after mid-summers day, they need to rest and store the energy for next year. Plenty of muck on top in winter and I chuck powderd seaweed and fish, blood and bone in Feb.