Kitchen Garden Forum

In Feb I moved two crowns and planted two new ones. One old crown is thriving, but of the other three, two are struggling (two tiny leaves) and one has vanished (new one). What am I doing wrong?

No-one got any ideas please?

Dear Brooklynodog, i don't know if your soil is on the heavy side, but this can often cause crowns to be a bit temperamental in getting established, especialy with some varieties, they just don't seem to like it.

Its quite free draining actually. I`ve gug the three duff ones up and replanted them a bit more proud. One had thrown off a couple of roots, but the other two had none!

Dear Brooklynodog, in that case i think i would just leave them for now and see how they settle in.
They often take a year to get established.

Wow! I didnt realise that, I thought that because you can dig them up in winter that they grew really fast in spring

Its a long term thing, Brooklyn.
For your newly-planted crowns, don't pick anything this year, just feed and water well. Next year you should only take a very few stalks and keep up the feeding and watering regime. The year after that (2010) your new plants should be well away - can you wait that long? You will have to rely on your old crown until then!

John

Thanks John. How frustrating though, it doesnt explain all that on the plant leaflet

I'm afraid that's the way of things with rhubarb, Brooklyn.
Unless you grow the young plants well and allow them to build up in their early years you'll never get a decent crown that crops really well.
Eventually, say after another 5 or more years you'll have to start all over again as the crown becomes old and woody!!!

John

Rhubarb does seem to take a long time to get established, even when you plant it in well manured soil. It also seems to sulk for at least a year when you move it so I guess it's just a question of patience and not over-picking any stalks until it has really got established.