Kitchen Garden Forum

Hi all,
Can anyone advise me as to whether I should do anything about my largest rhubarb plant? I notice it has rather suddenly developed large flower-stems and wil soon flower. Should I prevent this or can I let the flowers develop in all their glory? Will they take any of the goodness out of the leaf-stalks?

mike

Dear Mike, my clump of rhubarb started sending up flower spikes ever since i had a moles nest underneath it.
I always cut them out as low as i can, and as early as i can, this is just what i was told to do at an early age.
I think any type of flower has to take a fair bit of energy from a plant.

I was about to ask a question about this.

Two of my rhubarb plants are flowering and I know of at least another four plots who have the same problem. Nothing to do with moles

Ideas anyone? This doesn't usually happen until late in the summer.

Ours did that last year and I pulled off all the flower stems. This year, all seems to be back to normal. I would assume it's just a fluke depending on the early spring weather in your area.

My French-bought rhubarb tries to flower each year and I usually have to take off 4 or 5 flowers. I was told by a friend to buy some English rhubarb as this never flowers! I bought some seed and so far so good . . . but maybe in future years it might be a different story.
Perhaps the spring weather here is just too warm for it - we did have a warm February this year.

My rhubarb regularly tries to flower from early in the season. I've already had to remove developing flower spikes a couple of times this year from both Timperley Early, grown from crowns, and from Glaskins Perpetual, originally grown from seed in 2001. The Glaskins has always been very prone to throwing up flower spikes. I've no idea why they try to flower; sometimes quite profusely.

Well, guys, if you find the rhubarb is to your liking after you have cut the flowering spikes, I dare say that's the thing to do. Thanks.

I must say, regarding the time of year, the only time I've seen the plants in flower is at this time of year. That's around here, that is. I can't say for other parts of the country.

mike

Hello Mike,
Have grown rhubarb for years and it has always flowered, some years worse than others!

All I was told to do the first time I saw it, was to pull the flower stalk out side ways as early (small) as possible, to stop the plant expending it's vigour flowering.

I have the usual red sorts, don't know the varieties, some of
which I force and freeze. Then I have a green stem variety, which I think is German Green,this does not force and is in season for only about 2 weeks before it goes off.

Cheers !1

It is normal for rhubarb to flower like any plants. Just cut off the flowers so it doesn't waste energy like everyone says.