rhubarb!!

[bisdu]

Okay gardening people, advice please

18 months or so ago, my friend gave me some rhubarb plants. Not having a ready prepared spot I heeled them in and they took very well.

Earlier in the year they were transplanted to their permanent home where they also seemed to thrive. Stlii being too few to cut, I hsve left them until their is enough to make something worthwhile, but have noticed over the past few weeks that they seem to be struggling. They are wilting a little , leaves losing colour and are not putting on weight - (wish I knew how to do that )or new growth.

The ground seems neither too dry or too wet.

Any ideas please - and, shall I try cutting the stalks that are already there in the hope of stimulating new growth or leave them uncut - if cut - where is the best place

thanks

[Deleted]

Dear bisdu person,

I don't know.  I don't do gardening, preferring instead womanising, but I ran your question by the old duffer who lives next door, and who doesn't seem to have anything better to do, and he came up with:

"Oh dear!  A few things not quite right, here...  If the rhubarb was transplanted this year we mustn't expect much of it until next year.  Gushes of growth derive from stored energy, at first, until the plant re-establishes itself."

Puffing on his pipe, and noticing that I was beginning to nod off, he then rather grandly exclaimed

"However, it's a bad year for rhubarb.  Probably do to the wet winter.  Some form of rust is affecting it here in the UK also.  I suggest that the lady pulls, not cuts,  the stems with failing leaves, so that they become detached below the soil surface.  I shouldn't water it, just let it make what it can this year.  While it bears leaves it is gaining strength, so I'd be inclined not to crop it this year, which can only weaken it"

I have no idea what he's talking about....

[bisdu]

Brill - please pas my thanks on to the old duffer, although I expect he's gone to bed by now - but if so, will you do it in the morning?

Thanks

[Deleted]

Cute come-back, ma chere bisdu.  It's just the sort of thing that would lead me to post again.  Without it I probably wouldn't bother.... I don't fink people realise the power of their posts... xx

[Ali]

The old duffers advice is superb I'd also consider a thought or two to muck - good ole oss merk well rotted. Rhubarb are greedy - they love a good feed.

I enjoy pulling ..... it's all in the art of wrist action .... place your fingers as low as possible on the stem and with a gentle twist action of the wrist the stem should come away nicely...

[Eryri]

Whew!!!
--pleased to know others having problems with their rhubarb--well not pleased they got problems!!-but good to know I am not the only one.
Thanks for that advice.

[Deleted]

Bang on, Miss lovely Ali.  And I'm glad that Eyriri (how do you spell your name, it makes my brain hurt?) took some comfort from the fact that we're all in the same boat... 

ps:  Taking such comfort from communal suffering is known as the 'Mephostopheles (sp?) syndrome.  It doesn't matter how deep we are in the sh*t as long as there are others in a similar deep sh*t too.....

[bisdu]

Not wanting to sound argumentitive - perish the thought - but I've never heard of Mephistopoles Syndrome - are you sure thats not come from the old duffer next door and what he meant was Schadenfreude?

....and Ali - you have made me blush with your description of picking rhubarb.

[Deleted]

Oh! Bisdu! Mephostopheles is a character from Marlowe's 'Dr Faustus'. He's the Devil's right-hand man. Dr. Faustus sold his soul to the Devil. In exchange for a period where he could do anything, including flying, without aeroplanes, around the World, having a good time, womanising,(great sex implied, but not stated), eating too many pizzas, getting drunk, etc, etc. Mephestopholes was sent to watch over Dr. Faustus, and to claim his soul when the time came. Eternal damnation is what awaited Dr. Faustus, from which suffered Mephestopheles, but who was comforted by the knowledge that soon he would have Dr. Faustus for company!

[Deleted]

And I was amused by Ali's pornographic account of how to pull rhubarb, but even more amused by your blushing, chere bisdu...