[SoniaBA]

Hi all 

I have noticed that my rhubarb looks like it is growing a flower, do i remove it or leave it???

Sonia

[mumofstig]

cut it off near the bottom 

[SoniaBA]

Mum, is there a good reason to do so? Or was that the straw you picked 

[fatcat1955]

If you let it flower it takes energy away from the plant producing seed.

[SoniaBA]

Thanks for that will do it now. Will it be ok to put in the compost bin?

[mumofstig]

yup 

[SoniaBA]

Thanks all done  Both plants had one! What do you think has caused that? I inherited them with the house and the first time i have seen the start of a flower in 6 years!

[Yorkie]

All plants exist to flower, mine did it almost continuously last year.  I suspect a plant under stress puts out more flowers - it's been very dry so that may well have something to do with it.

[gazza975526570]

my rhubarb has had loads this year - never seen it before either.

CUt it off as soon as i see them growing - im still getting tons of rhubarb

[SoniaBA]

Both plants are growing really well, but although they are in a corner of the garden, the recent winds did break some of the stalks. (had an early crumble  ) So maybe that and a few other factors have contributed to the flower growth this year.
Will keep an eye on it now, see if it tries to grow any more.

Thanks all

[Lardman]

I have now taken 11 - yes 11 flower heads off my Glaskins. I was going to leave them but it got to the stage where there were more flower stalks than leaf stalks ! Im also putting it down to being too dry.

[mashbintater]

I've been digging small holes 2-3 inches deep behind mine (plot on a gentle slope) & filling with water several times at each visit. I honestly think if i hadn't they'd have dried up completely!

[SoniaBA]

Mine are in the wettest and shadiest part of the garden. I did check all around the garden and watered all plants in the sun yeasterday, but when i checked the shaded side none of the potted plants or borders were dry, so just didnt check the rhubarb. Will check on them in the morning to see if they are dry.

[Salmo]

Could the epidemic of flowering rhubarb be something to do with a cold spell going down to -18 that we had in December? I would put my money on that rather than drought.

[snowdrops]

The man at Oldroyds in the rhubarb triangle told me it was when they were dry & if you think about it it was very dry during March just when they were beginning to grow.
Haven't read all of the thread but you shouldn't cut rhubarb but pull it from very low down the stem, so that it comes away cleanly with a bit of the papery bud cover if that makes sense.