[Ma and Pa Snip]

Early 2009 planted a small size crown of Glaskins Perpetual rhubarb in a 42lt tub.
We got it from a nursery in a 3lt tub,

Took nothing from it the first year, last year never took any more than a third of the sticks at any time.

This year it was the first of the 4 rhubarbs we have to show any growth, the other 3 are planted in one of the raised beds.


Have taken 6 sticks from it so far this year and today I notice it is already trying to run to seed.
I have removed all the seed stems

The crown must have grown in size well, given where the stems are now coming up from within the tub.
I am wondering if, in two years,  it has already outgrown the tub and just wants to seed rather than produce more sticks than it already has.


Any thoughts.

[Ma and Pa Snip]

 

[Lardman]

My Glaskins Perpetual is in open ground and is constantly running to seed.

[Ma and Pa Snip]

Thanks for the reply Lardman.

I've just made a more through inspection and all but two of the sticks shown on the first picture were actually growing well up the main seeding stems, of which there were 5 or 6, only two sticks were coming from the crown itself.

I've had a careful dig round and the crown has not overgrown the pot, if lardman has the same situation then it seems it is down to the variety.

Taken drastic action on the basis of 'kill or cure' for this season. Have removed the hollow seed stems right back to the crown.

If it just throws up more seed stems then it is for the bin

It now looks like this

[Yorkie]

Irrespective of variety, a  lot of people appear to be mentioning seed stalks on rhubarb. Could just be to do with the weather, possibly aggravated by a little bit of stress by being in a pot if it has dried out a little.

I wouldn't chuck it out just for that.

[Hobnails]

My Glaskins Perpetual is also running to seed after throwing up a few short sticks.
Grown from seed in 2009 and planted out last year. WE took nothing at all from it last yearwith high hopes of some spectacular crumbles this year- but with the flower stalks
being thrown up I should be a florist!!