[wendycas]

Hi
Went to the allotment today and saw that the rhubarb was growing well-except we noticed flower heads starting on all 5 rhubarb plants! What's that about? Are they going to seed already?
We forced them early in the year but only for a short time unitl signs of growth appeared then we uncovered them. What can we do about it?
Thanks
Wendy

[Salmo]

There is nothing you can do to prevent flowers being produced.

Cut off the flowers at the base. They will take energy away from the other growth.

[ryetek]

We did not force our rhubarb at all but we've still noticed flower heads starting to form. We will also be doing as Salmo suggests above.

[bravemurphy]

I am sure I read somewhere that is a sign of it not being happy.

But then again I could of dreamt it 

[wendycas]

Thanks for the replies. Yes, we cut off the flower heads but are producing flowers a sign of going to seed or is that just veg rather than fruit?
Thanks
Wendy :happy:

[mumofstig]

some years they try to flower and some years they don't..... it's to do with the plant getting stressed, presumably by the weather this spring 

[Salmo]

Thanks for the replies. Yes, we cut off the flower heads but are producing flowers a sign of going to seed or is that just veg rather than fruit?
Thanks
Wendy :happy:

The part of rhubarb that we eat is the leaf stalks. It is a vegetable.

If you leave the flower to go to seed the plant will still continue to grow. It will just not be so productive. It is quite difficult to kill rhubarb.

[Beetroot queen]

We had a problem with ours doing this back in 2011 we just kept chopping them off and all well since.

Snippety snip snip. Ps the advice I do believe came from here too.