[uba]

Hi all,

We bought some crowns from the garden centre. They came in plastic bags with some very dry compost surrounding the roots and a single green shoot with a leaf on top. The weather being as it is at the moment I am not sure about planting it out in the garden (packet said to plant out october to early spring). How long will they be ok in the bags? Or would it be better to pot them in some compost and keep in the conservatory until better weather?

[Salmo]

A conservatory will be too warm and the plants will sprout leaves using up energy stored in the root.

I would pot them up in damp compost to allow them to rehydrate. Put them outdoors or in an unheated greenhouse or frame. Rhubarb will stand any amount of frost. You may loose the leaves but they will grow more.

Plant them out when the conditions improve with the buds at or just below soil level.

[Janeymiddlewife]

I wouldn't leave them in the bags as they'll begin to rot. If the ground isn't frozen they should be Ok,. just cover them with some dryish mulch to protect the leaf, rhubarb is fairly tough. If it's frozen solid then in pots in a cool room, might be better, but keep them in the light as you don't want to "force" them.

Crossed with Salmo, but I think we agree 

[uba]

thanks to you both, I'll get to it this afternoon

[Rangerkris]

I sowed some seed late last year, and they looked like they was no good until the other day they have just started to send up some crowns  they are pretty hardy i think. I have now covered with buckets and will see what happens.

[Yorkie]

Slightly concerned to hear you're trying to force them the year after sowing seed, Kris.

That risks killing them or at the very least damaging them for future years - forcing them really takes it out of them and should be reserved for more mature plants.