[Lardman]

I should be so lucky...

5% germination, new seeds two different varieties from a well know ebay supplier. I could blame the compost and weather conditions but 5% ?!

[mumofstig]

mmmm - I had good germination when I grew mine IIRC 

[tosca100]

I got nine from mine, but there were a few which didn't germinate.

[Trillium]

Rhubarb seeds have always been iffy on germination, which is why root divisions have usually been the main propagation method.

[m1ckz]

did mine 2 yrs ago,,,,good germination,,,get loads off it now

[Lardman]

Blowing the dust off this thread...

After my first poor showing I resowed with much better results.  Now all I have to do it not kill them 

[tosca100]

I've just moved mine as they weren't doing well where they were, but later ones sown in pots are doing OK, When I dug them up they had pathetic roots, just a small main one with a couple of threads off it. Five are struggling on, two have died. But we are still in drought here, just had the odd splash of rain three or four times these last couple of months with temps into the 40s. I water but it doesn't have the same affect as rain. The rate they are going they will not survive the winter, though our's doesn't start till november.

[Kristen]

I grew some from seed (a while ago, germination was good, "Victoria" I think) but I thought they weren't as good as the single plant I already had that was a "variety" bought many years ago, so I ditched them and bought a couple of new ones (including an early) [sorry, sat here, can't remember the names]

I wonder if know varieties are a better bet than from-seed?

[mumofstig]

The seeds you buy are usually Glaskin's Perpetual or Victoria. You do get more choice of variety with crowns, but the Glaskin's I sowed have grown into strong plants 

I did cadge a piece of an early unknown variety from a plot neighbour though 

Blowing the dust off this thread...

After my first poor showing I resowed with much better results.  Now all I have to do it not kill them 

Those look much better 
Best to pot them up quickly before the roots suffer

[Kristen]

The seeds you buy are usually Glaskin's Perpetual or Victoria. You do get more choice of variety with crowns, but the Glaskin's I sowed have grown into strong plants 

Typical. So I picked the wrong variety

[Beetroot Queen]

I am growing both victoria and glaskins and they are huge strong plants

[Nobbie]

Blowing the dust off this thread...

After my first poor showing I resowed with much better results.  Now all I have to do it not kill them 

How much rhubarb do you need

[Lardman]

The seeds you buy are usually Glaskin's Perpetual or Victoria.

Victoria on the right , Glaskins on the left  The only thing strong from the glaskins I sowed a few years back were the constant stream of flower stems.  It gets very expensive keep buying crowns just for them to die after 1 season.

How much rhubarb do you need

Despite my best efforts I can despatch crowns at a rate of knots. I wouldn't be surprised if Im rhubarbless 2 season from now. 

[mumofstig]

Just wondering why............is your soil sandy or chalky, cos it prefers a slightly acid soil 

[rowan57]

Flippin 'eck, I'll post ya some. The Triffid's:


P1020166 by rowan.godfrey, on Flickr