B&M rhubarb and asparagus

cjb02

Been to B&M today and spotted these which I thought were good bargains

rhubarb "holsteiner" 1 plant £1.99
(or part of a 3 for £5 offer)
crowders description here & same price + delivery

Asparagus "gijnlim" 2 plants £1.99
(or part of a 3 for £5 offer)
marshalls description here & 10 plants @ £12.95 + del.

I also bought some golden gormet shallots making 3 for £5 meaning £1.66 each.

they had other stuff in the offer inc spuds, onions (multiple varieties), and cant remember what else.

dogstarheaven

I noticed these in B&M a good few weeks ago when they first came in and i was interested in the Asparagus crowns but found that they were rather short at about 3" long and very spindly (didn't buy these). But it's good that they are a named variety that's recommended. If any of you guys were interested in any of the stock, ensure that they are plump and fresh roots; anything else wouldn't be the best start for a one yo. crown (would take 3 years to get a decent crop).

Eenymeeny

dogstarheaven wrote: »

I noticed these in B&M a good few weeks ago when they first came in and i was interested in the Asparagus crowns but found that they were rather short at about 3" long and very spindly (didn't buy these). But it's good that they are a named variety that's recommended. If any of you guys were interested in any of the stock, ensure that they are plump and fresh roots; anything else wouldn't be the best start for a one yo. crown (would take 3 years to get a decent crop).

Thanks for that. I planted a rhubarb from there last year and it just disappeared! Noticed there was some growth on the instore ones this year, might hang on for a while and see if they get any bigger ones in!

dogstarheaven

I'm not sure how often they bring in fresh stock as I've noticed with B&M and Pound shops (can't say for the other shops that sell bare-root plants that come in plastic, suffocating bags) that they don't sell that quickly as thus, the plants either would have shrivelled up and dried-out or have gone mouldy. I think the stock I saw in Wilko's the other week when they introduced the Rhubarb (got garlic, seed potatoes, onion sets etc) for the first time were a reasonably healthy offset (shoot). At this time of year, they would be sprouting now, so you need to buy asap. And plant out in a sunny spot in well=manured spot with plenty of room for it to grow. You'll get a couple of stalks next year to crop, but the 3rd year, you'll get a lot more.

azzabazza

I saw the rhubarb in B&M this morning and swithered about buying. I am not sure where to plant in my garden however. Could I plant in a large pot?

cjb02

azzabazza wrote: »

I saw the rhubarb in B&M this morning and swithered about buying. I am not sure where to plant in my garden however. Could I plant in a large pot?

you can plants in pots but it never does as well as it does in the ground. I had a plant in a pot for a while and it did so so. I put it in the floor and it went bonkers (well manured)

Eenymeeny

dogstarheaven wrote: »

I'm not sure how often they bring in fresh stock as I've noticed with B&M and Pound shops (can't say for the other shops that sell bare-root plants that come in plastic, suffocating bags) that they don't sell that quickly as thus, the plants either would have shrivelled up and dried-out or have gone mouldy. I think the stock I saw in Wilko's the other week when they introduced the Rhubarb (got garlic, seed potatoes, onion sets etc) for the first time were a reasonably healthy offset (shoot). At this time of year, they would be sprouting now, so you need to buy asap. And plant out in a sunny spot in well=manured spot with plenty of room for it to grow. You'll get a couple of stalks next year to crop, but the 3rd year, you'll get a lot more.

Thanks I'll look out for some this week, although it's frosty here this morning will they be ok to plant now please?

cjb02

Eenymeeny wrote: »

Thanks I'll look out for some this week, although it's frosty here this morning will they be ok to plant now please?

I have had 5 small rhubarbs out all winter and they are just starting to poke out the pots (in Yorkshire) however I would try and harden shop bought ones off over several days as they are currently in frost free shops

Eenymeeny

Thanks for your advice. I've bought Red Canadian from Wilko which was sprouting. I've placed the perforated bag, with the top open, into another plastic bag and a flat container to catch the drips.
The forecast is very cold for the next few days so I've watered it and placed it on a windowsill in a chilly utility room. Hoping that'll be ok for a week or so!

dogstarheaven

EM: is there a chance that you can put the rhubarb into a pot and covered till the compost reaches the bottom end of the shoot? that way, you're helping it to grow roots in the interim before you plant out in a week or so, or when the weather is frost-free.

Eenymeeny

Thanks very much. I'll do that today