[Alan lad]

When I found 3 plants in my new overgrown plot I thought "bingo" my first crop !! Now it's died back what do I do with it? It looks like 4 quite big bulbs. Do I just leave it to come back or do I need to do something like dig it up/cover it up?

[sarajane]

As its your first year with the rhubarb, it does die back this time of year (and looks very sorry for itself).  If you happen to have any rotted manure, throw some on top otherwise leave well alone and see how it produces next year.  If they grow into very large plants next summer it maybe that they will need splitting but that is a job for this time next year. 

[Ice]

Was going to say what sarajane said.

[sarajane]

Was going to say what sarajane said.

Don't know about yours but mine thrives on neglect, manure over every winter and a good splitting every 5 years or so.  It is in a nice sunny position though.  Some think it can be shuved into a dark corner but it just will not thrive.  Give it sunshine if nothing else.

[sunshineband]

Don't cover the crowns over completely with manure, though, just push it up to them. Thye don't like being completely covered and might rot  :blink:

[AlaninCarlisle]

This subject has just got me drooling. Those first few sticks in March/April are out of this world. I love the stuff and have small beds of it all over the place. Totally pest and disease resistant as an added advantage

[solway cropper]

I have to agree with Alan. I picked my first sticks on 14th April this year and after the chives it's the first real crop of the year and a sure sign that things are getting under way again. I've just put a good mulch of compost around mine and I'm already thinking of rhubarb crumble !!

[Bodmass]

My new plot also has a few rhubarb plants (approx 60cm across & 1 rising 20cm above ground).  The area around it has a lot of wood chippings/shavings underneath the compost surrounding them.  Any idea what the thinking behind this is?

[Yorkie]

They probably thought it could do with a mulch.  Not a great idea to mulch with wood chippings in my view - they rob the soil of nitrogen as they rot down (slowly).

[sunshineband]

If you don't have any rotten manure, leaf mould plus some bf&b does the job quite well 

[cooperman]

As its your first year with the rhubarb, it does die back this time of year (and looks very sorry for itself).  If you happen to have any rotted manure, throw some on top otherwise leave well alone and see how it produces next year.  If they grow into very large plants next summer it maybe that they will need splitting but that is a job for this time next year. 

sorry to disagree a bit, do NOT put manure directly on top of the rhubarb, just spread directly around in close proximaty

[radiohead]

Early spring  keep an eye on it and as soon as it shows signs of movement....or even before...spread a thick 1ft layer of straw over it...a less aggressive way of forcing,you'll get lovely sweet early stalks without the stress to the plant normally associated with forcing pots.

[sunshineband]

As its your first year with the rhubarb, it does die back this time of year (and looks very sorry for itself).  If you happen to have any rotted manure, throw some on top otherwise leave well alone and see how it produces next year.  If they grow into very large plants next summer it maybe that they will need splitting but that is a job for this time next year. 

sorry to disagree a bit, do NOT put manure directly on top of the rhubarb, just spread directly around in close proximaty

Yes, that is right 

[AlaninCarlisle]

[/quote] sorry to disagree a bit, do NOT put manure directly on top of the rhubarb, just spread directly around in close proximaty
[/quote]
I've heard this advice before but it doesn't hold in my experience. I've always just shovelled well-rotted manure onto rhubarb in Autumn and always had a good crop. Strangely enough, the other "Golden Rule" about splitting crowns every few years has always been ignored by me. My crowns are now 30 years old, two feet across and as prolific as ever

[sunshineband]

I agree that rhubarb can grow on for ever -- my Dad's plants stayed int he same spot for over 40 years before I rehomed them on my plot.

(They do need feeding of course)