Rhubarb re-potting? Advice please

ampersand

I've been away a month and everything's picked up with good watering since return.
If I think about it, my 3 old pots of rhubarb have been stalled for several years now. There are stalk clusters on 2. The 3rd is a back-from-the-dead survivor, from which 2 spindly crowns have separately emerged, with matching stalks and small leaves. I describe these 3 because the 4th pot was a village sale acquisition this year and has hearty hefty stalks and leaves.
I love rhubarb and would like advice. I have wood ash and horse pooh, if these are useful.
Current pots are apx.50cm rim diameter.

Thankyou in advance for any help.

valk_scot

Rhubarb can grow to a couple of feet across at the base so a 30cm pot is far too small for all but young plants. They'd be far happier in the open ground tbh. If that isn't possible though split off three of the healthiest looking mini-crowns, pot these up in new JI No3 and dump the rest.

ampersand

Thanks valk_scot,
Suddenly thinking about the Why? of their not being in open ground - I'm not sure!
I've just had it in pots for about 10 years now and will put them into open ground instead.
Is now the time?...and sorry, I just couldn't/wouldn't dump any of them, nor do I buy expensive things like JI products.
Budget just doesn't allow for such things.

MollyDolly

Now would be okay to plant your rhubarb in the ground, you could mix a bit of garden compost in with it (I agree the cost of graded compost is a killer)

If on separating any, you find you have too many plants - perhaps you could give them to neighbours or local allotmenteers.:)

ampersand

Thankyou MD-

The small ones will split, but that will still make only 5 crowns, should all survive the move. I shan't be passing any on - love rhubarb and freeze all stalks not used at once
My plants are given what I have and all sorts of mixes of good things, according to gut instinct and the mood of the day.
If more special things front up - carboot cheapies and other peeps' disposals, tant mieux!

Leif

valk_scot wrote: »

Rhubarb can grow to a couple of feet across at the base .

The roots extend about 3 or 4 feet from the centre of the crown, and they go down deep.

mrbadexample

ampersand wrote: »

I've just had it in pots for about 10 years now and will put them into open ground instead.

10 years? :eek: No wonder they're sulking. Rhubarb is a hungry plant and has probably long-exhausted any nutrients in the pot. As long as that horse muck isn't too fresh, work plenty into the soil when you dig the hole. Don't plant it too deep - you want the top of the crown just at ground level.

Your rhubarb will thank you for this, and you'll be eating pie all next year.

ampersand

How fresh is too fresh, Mr BE?
- you've not used any in recent baking, j'assume:-)

valk_scot

ampersand wrote: »

Thanks valk_scot,
Suddenly thinking about the Why? of their not being in open ground - I'm not sure!
I've just had it in pots for about 10 years now and will put them into open ground instead.
Is now the time?...and sorry, I just couldn't/wouldn't dump any of them, nor do I buy expensive things like JI products.
Budget just doesn't allow for such things.

Well you don't need JI if you're going to plant them out, just a bit of bin compost or some well rotted manure.

I got two crowns in pots from the garden centre twelve years ago btw and now the two of them cover an area of about double bed size and I feed the street with rhubarb. So don't plant your five crowns too close to one another, leave a good four feet gap between them.

valk_scot

Leif wrote: »

The roots extend about 3 or 4 feet from the centre of the crown, and they go down deep.

I know, I've dug a couple of established rhubarb plants out in my time. Pickaxe job, with a saw for the stubborn root!

mrbadexample

ampersand wrote: »

How fresh is too fresh, Mr BE?
- you've not used any in recent baking, j'assume:-)

Not on my list of ingredients!

I have actually used fresh horse manure when planting out rhubarb with no ill effects, so it'll probably be just fine, but usual recommendations are a few months at least I think.