[Urbanite]

Hi, I`m a new allotmenteer (took on the plot in February) and was gifted a coupla crowns of rhubarb from two of my neighbors, planted just below the top of the crowns with a bit of manure in the holes.The first crown i put in initially sprung to life...but seems to have stopped growing vertically, the second really hasn't done much at all.What have i done wrong?, is this normal?, i walk round the site and see everyone's rhubarb patches flourishing...i have RHUBARB ENVY!...   

[Lardman]

If you only put it in this Feb give it a chance 

Make sure it's weed free, has plenty of food and leave it alone for a year. Next year you will have less rhubarb envy 

(Or so they tell me - cos I keep killing all of mine  )

[Urbanite]

cheers pal...that's reassuring (I think)

[pigguns]

There's no explaining it.  My back garden ones are romping away, my plot ones are less sheltered and a bit poorly looking, both treated the same- the garden ones are against a south facing concrete (heat retaining) wall.  They may be different varieties as well for all I know.  Anyway I agree with above, they take a season or two to really get going.....

[plum crumble]

yup, give the young 'uns a blinkin' chance!  give it a couple of seasons, and you'll be posting a thread with the same title, but this time saying you are overwhelmed with the volume, and the family, friends and neighbours are all avoiding you and your endless bags of rhubarb... 

[Mrs Bee]

There is no rhyme or reason to why some things flourish and others do not.

My rhubarb should be dead!
 I bought a crown didn't have a space for it and stuffed it in a tiny pot, where is was left and neglected for a couple of years and by all rights should be dead, dead, dead. but no! it threw up some leaves and has finally been planted at the plot where it seems to be doing very well.

[Urbanite]

 

[3759allen]

a good mulching over winter should help for next year

[Mrs Bee]

Plenty of horse manure it is then, although OH says he prefers custard on his rhubarb.

[plum crumble]

silly! 

[Mrs Bee]

silly! 

Oh, yes. Very.