Planning ahead

[Stephen]

As I have only had the plot for a couple of years, I have not done much planning ahead, although I have moved a few things around.
Anyway, on to the point.
I want to expand the rhubarb and have cleared a few raspberry canes out (the roots go deep don't they?). I have also dug in a sackful of mature manure and about half-a-dalek of compost. Is there anything else I should do by way of preparation? I have read various articles on splitting the rhubarb and hope to leave at least half of what I have got untouched (I don't want to be without!)

Secondly, gooseberries: similarly, I want to expand these. I have been layering these, which is very effective and I want to move a couple of fairly mature bushes to where they will receive more sun. How much should I prune hem back? Any hints on a succesful translocation would be welcome.

[John]

Hello Stephen
As far as the rhubarb goes, if you have a thick clump of it I would dig up all of the root in the winter when the foliage has completely died down. You can then chop off sections of root with about three eyes (buds) and replant these. These will be the parent plants for your future crop. Don't pull any stalks next year (2010) but give the plant a chance to get its strength back. Pick it lightly the year after this (2011) then for the following years it should crop well.

With the left over sections of root from this winter you can plant these in some spare ground and they will give you a good few stalks in the spring. Pick all these as you need them then finally discard the roots in the summer as they will be exhausted.

John

[Stephen]

Thanks John.
So it is not worth splitting some and leaving some undisturbed, which is a shame. OK.

[glallotments]

Hope you checked out your manure

[Stephen]

Hi glallotments
Thanks, (where is that "fingers crossed emoticon?) this is old manure which I had bagged up from last year (or possibly the year before) and I don't think it has done harm elsewhere! (It is only my efforts which have done harm! )

[glallotments]

Glad to hear it! Hope you don't mind the reminder - just anything to try keep people informed!!

[FelixLeiter]

So it is not worth splitting some and leaving some undisturbed, which is a shame.

Yes you can. You don't have to destructively dig up the whole clump. You can cut it down the middle with a spade and remove half of it for further dividing for transplanting, leaving the other half behind in perpetuity. I would do all this in the winter when the plant is completely dormant.

The same for your gooseberries: transplant them when dormant. Young bushes transplant well, but I'm always inclined with fruit to start afresh. Each year I take a few hardwood cuttings of currants and gooseberries (as easy as pushing a few vigorous twigs into the ground when pruning) so that I have fresh replanting stock if I need it. If I don't, I always know someone who will have them. I've not seen gooseberries layered. I'm inclined to think that might result in a rather wonky bush. With gooseberries, it's traditional to grow them on a "leg" — that is, on a short branchless trunk to about 1 foot. It makes harvesting much easier (and potentially slightly less painful).

[Stephen]

Hi Felix
Thanks for your post, very helpful. I would very much prefer to extend the rhubarb a bit at a time.
I have found that gooseberries layer well. I have also put in some cuttings. The original bush is very large (and of uncertain vintage as it was present in the allotment when I took the plot over) and my objective is to create something like a thinish hedge, rather than a spherical bush.