[Kirstyiallen]

Hi all,
I have just taken over a plot in my local allotment  and in the middle of the plot there is a large flowering rhubarb plant, I have removed the flower steams but I am hoping to move it to a diffrent place as the whole plot is badly overgrown and needs clearing, can I risk moving it now or can I cut it right down to the ground until October time when I can move and split it?
Thankyou

[Yorkie]

I wouldn't risk it now if you can help it.

Harvest it in the usual way this season (cutting off the flower spikes as you're doing now), then wait until it's winter time and move it then.  Don't harvest it next year to allow it to recover.

PS. Welcome to the site; feel free to pop into the Welcome section and introduce yourself for a proper welcome back

[Baldy]

Its probably not the ideal time - October/November(ish) or very early Spring perhaps best - but having said that rhubarb tends to be as tough as old boots so I would think you will be ok to do it now. I moved my Timperley Early about this time a couple of years ago - it was a little knocked back but is as good as it was now. I'd risk it if you need to clear the space - depends how much you need to get on with clearing..

You'll notice that if you ask a question here you'll likely get 2 or 3 different answers... 'tis the way of things... 

Pip pip,
Balders

[Kirstyiallen]

Thankyou both and yes after stalking the forum for a while I thought I would take the plunge! I may see how the wind takes me tomorrow as I attack the weeds and overgrown gooseberry bush! as I would rather not move it but it's slap bang in the middle of the plot?!!
Would it survive if I cut it right down and left if where it was and cleared around it for now?
Thankyou again

[steved]

It would survive.....but wouldnt be very happy, it needs its leaves to build itself up for next year.

I never harvest rhubarb after the longest day for this reason.

If you felt that you had to, then i wouldnt be harvesting it for a couple of years in its new spot.

[Hampshire Hog]

If you really really want to do it now I would dig round it and take it with as big a root ball as you can carry. I would also leave the leaves on it too as mentioned by Steved. Drop it into a large well watered planting hole in bed and cross your fingers.

Good luck

HH

[Nobbie]

It would survive.....but wouldnt be very happy, it needs its leaves to build itself up for next year.

I never harvest rhubarb after the longest day for this reason.

If you felt that you had to, then i wouldnt be harvesting it for a couple of years in its new spot.

This is a very conservative approach, and may be suitable in some locations. I have found that if the soil is fertile such as a rich clay soil, then you can get away with pretty much any approach, such as picking all the way through to winter and transplanting and then harvesting the following year. Light sandy soils is where you need to be careful as the rhubarb doesn't need much of an excuse to sulk due to the lack of water and nutrients.

[snowdrops]

Since you say you have a large overgrown plot, leave the rhubarb where it is, keep removing the flower stems,harvest some stems & enjoy your first harvest. Work on the rest of the plot, prepare a new area for the rhubarb, wait for October/November, then dig up the now dormant plant, divide the root up in to 3 clumps, plant & stand well back. Leave to grow unpicked next year, then begin to harvest lightly the following year. After that you could force 1 root each year, then leave it unpicked  the next year to recover.

[Kirstyiallen]

Thankyou all for your advice but guess who I met this morning the chap that had the plot before me!!!!! After much confusion and discussion as we have both paid for the plot this year we have decided to split the plot and he has opted for the half with the rhubarb in it so that almost a relief as I have completely clear my half and start afresh!!
Thankyou all and I will definitely be picking your brains again very soon I expect!!
K x

[pdblake]

I had the same problem with my plot a few years ago, huge rhubarb right in the middle. I dug it out and split it, think it was June time, and replanted straightaway and it thrived. It was a huge crown though and split into about twenty odd plants, which I managed to palm off onto other plot holders too    Seems the previous tenant liked his rhubarb as there was, and still is, another huge crown at the back of the plot.

[Robster]

I had the same experience as PD last year.  I had a big rhubarb in the wrong place.  Dug it out as best I could (which is to say not very the roots were so big and deep).  I transplanted to the new site with a good dusting of mycorhyza powder on the root.  Watered it and it romped away.  Started harvesting it this year and its fine.

Tough as old boots

[3759allen]

assuming you will need to move it for next year as i'm guessing you'll then have the whole plot. i would tend to move it once it's died back, i would also try to split it into 3 or 4 new plants (space permitting). you can then get a decent crop with out taking too much out of the plant, especially in the first few years.

i have one early variety that doesn't seem to be performing so well and both the later varieties don't seem so vigorous (think i may have pulled too much last year as they were still a little on the young side). i am planning to leave the smallest early and at least one of the later ones completely this year, and take it in turns every year so they can gain strength. prob have far too much in a few years but hopefully keep me going for years to come.

[snowdrops]

Thankyou all for your advice but guess who I met this morning the chap that had the plot before me!!!!! After much confusion and discussion as we have both paid for the plot this year we have decided to split the plot and he has opted for the half with the rhubarb in it so that almost a relief as I have completely clear my half and start afresh!!
Thankyou all and I will definitely be picking your brains again very soon I expect!!
K x

Not sure how you can both have paid for the same plot for the year, is it council run, have you been  to discuss it with them?