Dead rhubarb - but why?

ViolaLass

I planted some rhubarb this spring, one of which has definitely died and the second looks like it might be following.

Googling hasn't been entirely helpful regarding the cause, can anyone help please?

I have fairly heavy soil that holds moisture well. I planted the first one to die near where two walls meet. This means that it doesn't get direct sunshine until later in the day than the other two rhubarbs. The second one is in the middle of my garden and gets as much sun as it's going to given my orientation/fencing etc. It has grown two leaves, very green, one is now limp and I think the other one is beginning to shrivel (while remaining green).

Is it because my soil is too wet? Should I have not added liquid fertilizer? Should I have had more manure? Too little sun? Too much sun?

I think the dead plant may have crown rot as I dug it up and it didn't appear to have developed at all and was brown and soft-ish. That said, it was quite brown when it arrived and I'm not certain it's any browner.

Please help!

ed110220

I've had a similar problem. I planted two rhubarb plants two years ago, one Timperley Early and one Victoria. Timperley Early grew well right from the start but Victoria I thought was dying or had died until well into last summer it suddenly grew very well. I'm on a heavy soil too.

I also planted Glaskins Perpetual earlier this year and it hasn't grown any new leaves yet.

I did go a bit rhubarb crazy and planted Livingstone as it's said to be ready in autumn (bit skeptical) and Raspberry Red too.

Perhaps rhubarb can just be a bit temperamental starting.

Ed

PlymouthMaid

I lost the two I brought back from the allotment when I gave it up. I dug them up last week as they didnt seem to be growing and they were rotten. Very disappointed. I have also lost all but one of the raspberry canes I brought back. I wonder if they drowned in all the rain we had this winter.

A._Badger

There is a (mistaken) belief that rhubarb is almost indestructible I don't know whether crown rot (essentially a fungal disease) is becoming more common, but I have suffered it in my garden and spoken with quite a few other gardeners who have, too.

It is certainly more likely in damp conditions, so I would try adding some grit if your soil is very heavy and you could also try making a small mound and planting it so that it is slightly above ground level. Don't replant in the same hole as the spores that caused the first collapse will still be present and will attack your replacement, too.

The chances are that the OP's rhubarb did die due to crown rot (that rotten residue makes it seem very likely) but without seeing it, it's impossible to be certain.

realfood

When you plant rhubarb, make sure that the buds are above ground, or it is likely to rot.