Splitting rhubarb crowns

[melted welly]

Afternoon,

we’ve a couple patches of rhubarb, planted 1994, yield declining more noticeably now.

The obvious answer is new crowns, however I have a very vague memory of reading somewhere of a grower who split the crowns in situ with a subsoiler and somewhat revived their patch, extending the lifespan, not equivalent of new crowns but an improvement.

Wondering if a pass with something like a grange LD subsoiler would be worth a try, as in theory the lead discs would slice the crown and the leg would lift any compaction.

Or am I just going to mess up the roots, create avenues for pests and disease and just end up with a load of stunted small stalks next year?

I’ll probably try a tiny bit regardless to scratch that itch.

 

[spark plug]

Not very helpful but I topped the rhubarb patch once and it’s never grown back.

 

[Kidds]

Not the best time of year to do it, if you are determined to try it at least wait until the risk of a run of hot dry weather has reduced. Or just do it now and call in the god of hot dry weather for the benefit of the rest of us.

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Not very helpful but I topped the rhubarb patch once and it’s never grown back.

We top ours every year in April so it slows it up and we’ve got fresh young rhubarb for June when the strawberries are ready. seems to do it good!

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Split the crowns when the plants dormant for best results.

 

[melted welly]

Sorry, just to be clear, I’m talking about splitting them in winter when they’re dormant.

just wondering if it’s worth trying in situ rather than lifting and replanting as I’m a bit sceptical that we’d get the weather window in winter.

 

[renewablejohn]

Have split a patch with potato ridgers in winter to "let the frost get into them" (old wives tale but we dont seem to get any hard frosts nowadays) then filled the ridges up with manure. First year was a bit rank but after that the patch was rejuvenated.

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Sorry, just to be clear, I’m talking about splitting them in winter when they’re dormant.

just wondering if it’s worth trying in situ rather than lifting and replanting as I’m a bit sceptical that we’d get the weather window in winter.

The only in situ but we’ve done, split with the spade, take half away and left half where it was. Both the old and the new patch did well straight after

 

[Castle Farm]

November is the best month. . Each clump should have 1 rhizome, some roots, and 1 bud. Some will be larger than others. They are heavy feeders, so be nice to them.

 

[steveR]

Not very helpful but I topped the rhubarb patch once and it’s never grown back.

From my perspective, that is a Winner!!

Hate the stuff.

 

[Anymulewilldo]

November is the best month. . Each clump should have 1 rhizome, some roots, and 1 bud. Some will be larger than others. They are heavy feeders, so be nice to them.

Split, replant and then spread straw box muck 4 inches deep on the plot. Damn me that grew some rhubarb

 

[Treecreeper]

Dig out and split in November, leave above ground to weather for a while, trim off rotting /soft areas replant into new ground with well rotted fym and mulch with straw. Don't pick in the first year from a new crown. Use a rhubarb forcer on crowns if you want an early crop.

What's long and thin , red in parts and goes in tarts?

A. Rhubarb.

 

[Kidds]

Replanting is best but leatherjackets can mean it fails. I wouldn't be planting a big area after grass. Dursban was almost a necessity for replanting due to leatherjacket issues.

 

[Devil's advocate]

Replanting is best but leatherjackets can mean it fails. I wouldn't be planting a big area after grass. Dursban was almost a necessity for replanting due to leatherjacket issues.

Never knew that, it looks such a strong plant.

 

[Kidds]

Never knew that, it looks such a strong plant.

Once it gets going it is fine but the roots are very susceptible to leatherjackets and slugs at the establishment stage. I've seen some big acreages fail as a result

 

[spin cycle]

do ppl still eat rhubarb

 

[Anymulewilldo]

do ppl still eat rhubarb

We sell loads of it PYO and into local greengrocers

 

[Devil's advocate]

Wakefield used to be the centre of forced roobarb prouction. Grade two land, lots of shoddy from Bradford, lots of local customers/labour & cheap local coal.

Not much left now the growers have all got fed up.

 

[David.]

As above split, when dormant, leave on ground to weather a bit then replant.

 

[Treecreeper]

A question for the collective, Is rhubarb a fruit or a vegetable?

do ppl still eat rhubarb

Rhubarb is much sought after in good restaurants as desert according to my chef son.
Simple crumble for me though