[noshed]

Some of my rhubarb leaves have developed cherry red patches. Does anyone know if this is bad? I didn't think rhubarb got many diseases...

[GrannieAnnie]

Is it not just because its the end of their season noshed?  Mine go a bit like that, but you're not supposed to pick rhubarb after june time are you?  so the books say.  Mine are all looking a bit sad now too, time to let them go to sleep for the winter I think.

[Jake]

I didn't know about not picking rhubarb after June :o I think my mum picks it all year.

I found this link from uktv site but its only got 1 reply. Just says to pull off any infected bits and fertilize well in spring.

[GrannieAnnie]

Oooh, thanks for that Jake

[Heather_S]

My rhubarb looks sad too. But it looked like that last year when we took on the plot so I assume it's normal for it. Few more months time and I can dig it up and divide it

[Oliver]

Our rhubard is over 40 years old and its about 7 ft in diameter in full regalia. They eat it for a while till they get fed up with it. Then, as the flowers appear they cut them off. If any nice new stalks grow they eat them too. (One year old Fred, on the plot below theirs - he is 93 you know) entered some sticks in the local show (August) and won second prize! the fact it was our rhubard didn't seem to bother him!)
The plant often gets covered with shield bugs, doing what they do to make more bugs, but they don't bother anyone unless you touch them, then they can give off a stinky smell (so they are called stinkbugs!)
Red spots on leaves? Never had it. Sorry.
We have been told that if we try to divide it it will probably die, so best buy a new one. Perhaps next year.

[Heather_S]

Odd. I read you should divide every 4-5 years or whenever the stalks get skinny. Our's has a few spots where the stalks are pretty thin so we're going to dig it up, divide it and replant it in a nice compost-rich area

[noshed]

Thanks, I'll just keep pulling off the red bits and let it die down for the winter.
I'm off on holiday for 2 weeks - a week in the Lake District and a week on the plot. Hooray

[Oliver]

week on the plot. Hooray

Happy holidays, have a nice rest!

[Jake]

I'm off on holiday for 2 weeks - a week in the Lake District and a week on the plot. Hooray

Couldn't be better. My break seems a lifetime ago now, very envious. Have a good one.

[Oliver]

break seems a lifetime ago now

I'm on holiday all the time! Lucky me. They went away for a long weekend last week. Nextdoors looked after us, but I missed Them, The Otherone's too thick to notice I think.
Anyway, they are going to a Festival tonight on their friend's boat, so hope they have a good time! (Making a Fat Hen Spinnakopita to take for supper!)