My rhubarb looks like it needs a boost - anything I can do for this year or next?

[roisin]

It's gorgeous rhubarb - we had it from a friend about 5 years ago, I think it's called Old English or similar.

We had three plants and two have really dwindled away to very little and we had nothing to speak of from them last year, but they are still 'there' iyswim.

The third plant was OK last year, but I don't think we'll get much from it this year. We harvested it today and it's delicious, but the plant already looks like it does towards the end of the season - with the stalks being quite short.

Is there anything I can do to boost it for this year or next?

All i know about rhubarb is it like dark and manure doubt that helps .. i will watch thread with interest and hope smeone gives you a clue

Thanks loulou. Can anyone help?

Possibly feed and mulch this year and if that doesn't do much, lift and divide next?

www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles1105/rhubarb.asp

Hmm. After 5 years normally it would be time to lift and divide the crowns, but I'm not sure that would be a good idea if the plants aren't currently vigorous.

I wonder if you been over harvesting? You say you had nothing to speak of from two last year & have already harvested stalks from a weak 3rd plant this year - you should probably have rested it. Did you harvest from them the first year you were given them? The crowns like a year with no stalks pulled to recover themselves after being divided, if you didn't do this it may have weakened them.

Do you force them? If so - stop until they are recovered and don't force any one plant more than once every 3 years.

Do you feed them? As I recall rhubarb is quite nitrogen hungry - I think top dressing with manure each year is recommended.

I suggest that you stop harvesting completely for a couple of years, feed & nurture them & hope they recover. Perhaps divide one plant this winter & see how that goes. Otherwise, beg, borrow or steal some new crowns from your friend!

Oh thanks Snorkle. We haven't forced them, ever and didn't harvest from the two weaker ones last year.

But we haven't ever fed them, so I will look into that asap.

PistachioLemon's link does suggest that they get weak when dividing is overdue, so perhaps that is also a factor, and if so, then delaying dividing them until they are vigorous won't work. I'd divide one or two this winter and the other(s) the following year. And feed them up!

OK, I'll lift and divide them all this winter, and see what happens.

Thank you all.

i'll second the advice about alot of sh*t, alot of water and a bit of shade for them. Even if it is too late to divide them, buy a big bag of compost and scatter around the plants. If you can get hold of dried horse, cow and chicken manure pellets, sprinkle some around the base and water it. should pick up no end.

i was given a crown a couple of years ago and it did very poorly in a bed at the back of the garden. i have now planted it in a huge pot where i can keep it shaded, top up the soil with nice rich mulchy stuff and water anf eed it regularly - thing grows like mad now

Ooh great, I will have a go at all that hoarsewhisperer.

We have a north facing garden, so shade is no problem!