Flowering rhubarb!!

[azadigger]

This is clearly a silly question (sorry!!), but my rhubarb is flowering, is this normal and do I need to do anything?

[Diana]

Break off the flowerhead - you'll conserve the root energy that way.

[Mal]

There's rhubarb flowering all over our allotment site. Must be a good year for it.

[Diana]

If it's been dry there like here, then yes, that does tend to prompt them to flower early.

[ina]

Wouldn't believe that it's been dry here, but it must have been... My rhubarb is flowering, too - but my garden is a swamp!

[Annpan]

I have never seen flowering rhubarb It is the one thing that my mum always had in the garden... was never looked after, never watered, never fed... but it (and my own crop of 10+ plants) have never been seen flowering ... I must go and search google images to see what it looks like...

[ina]

My plant produced several flowers last year - although it was such a wet year! No idea, but maybe there are just some plants more prone to flowering than others. So I didn't get a lot of rhubarb from my own garden; fortunately I have a friend nearby with a lot of rhubarb, and not enough time to use it all!

[Diana]

I have never seen flowering rhubarb It is the one thing that my mum always had in the garden... was never looked after, never watered, never fed... but it (and my own crop of 10+ plants) have never been seen flowering ... I must go and search google images to see what it looks like...

If you're every coming up this way, take a detour down the Blairgowrie to Coupar Angus road - there are field of it down there and it's usually flowering in June/July.

Think dock flower, but much, much larger

[Annpan]

Thanks Diana, I saw pictures on t'internet and also some info...

You should break off the flowering stems as soon as you see them.
Some varieties are more prone to flowering, namely Victoria.
Usually older plants flower, though you can 'keep them young' by dividing the plant every 4 years.
Flowering usually happens through seasons of drought.

Something I didn't know Rhubarb only grows in cooler climates... those in warmer climates will just need to make do with your bananas, mangos, avacados, lemons, oranges, papayas, kiwi fruit,...... can't help feeling we got the rough end in this deal...

[azadigger]

I have now removed the flower stems. Many thanks for all the advice and comments, keep them coming!

[Millymollymandy]

My rhubarb flowers all the time. I've stopped bothering to remove the flower stalks because it's a full time job!

[Urban Ayisha]

on a similar note... i removed the flower head of my rhubarb and since then it seems to have died? could this be cos i removed too many stalks. got a bit over excited because it was the only thing on our allotment when we got it!! the leaves are yellowing and a bit holey and the stalks are a bit flaccid. or could it be weeds? how can i rescue it!!