digging up rhubarb

[wenpas]

I had a rhubarb plant which I think must have been in the garden for many years, it didn't produce much for the past 2 years so I decided to dig it up. The roots seem to go down about 2/3 feet, and be at least as widely extensive, is this usual, or have I been digging something else up!?

Yes that's fine. Roots can go as far as 4ft deep. If you are going to keep it and transplant to a different area of the garden, feed it with manure or old hanging basket compost. In the first year after transplanting don't harvest any stalks, all the energy will be needed to establish the root again. Also, make sure it's well watered after transplanting.

If you like rhubarb and want to keep it. Try dividing it. So you don't need to dig it all up in one piece. It'll rejuvenate it - then do with diary says.

From www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=544
Division
Division will guarantee a plant identical to the parent and is the most common method of propagation. It is also good practice to divide established crowns about once every five years if they have become weak or overcrowded. Lift crowns between autumn and early spring (usually in November).

Use a spade to divide the crown into sections each retaining a portion of the rhizome (thickened root) and at least one growing point. Sections from the outer part are better than the centres of old plants. Discard any old or decayed parts of the crown. Replant straight away, or wrap in damp sacking until ready to plant.

Thanks for that. In truth i don't much like rhubarb so I'm not sorry to see the back of it I just begun to wonder if I was digging something else up! I'm not a big pudding person (right pain for my mother because the threat of no pudding if I didn't eat my main was wasted on me) plus we have raspberries, black currants, gooseberries and blackberries. Oh and a cherry plum tree!! So no lack of fruit

Thanks Peridot, mine probably needs dividing