Asked on May 18, 2013

Rhubarb Help Please!!

Jayme
by Jayme
I am wondering why one of my rhubarb plants is thinking it is time to go to flower? or go to seed? I am not sure what it is doing.

Can I cut the flower part off? Are there male and female plants?
Can I chop the flowering part off?
This is what my other 2 rhubarb plants look like.
  16 answers
  • Deltagardener Deltagardener on May 18, 2013
    I would cut off the flowering stalk at the bottom where it is emerging. This often happens in the spring on older plants and can be a sign of stress. You may need to divide the plant after harvesting.
  • Catherine Smith Catherine Smith on May 19, 2013
    Agree with deltagardener. Looks like you need to divide that plant.
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on May 19, 2013
    Rhubarb flowers have male and female parts, Jayme. I would definitely cut off that flowering stalk.
  • Terry Lilley Terry Lilley on May 19, 2013
    Thanks for asking this very question...my plant is doing the same thing! :)
  • Jayme Jayme on May 19, 2013
    @Deltagardener and @Catherine Smith this plant was a new plant last year and has never been harvested....it actually has very few leaves on it at all, just that big ugly thing coming up in the middle of it. Thanks for everyone's comments....off to the garden.
  • Mikell Paulson Mikell Paulson on May 19, 2013
    I always pull that one out. I never cut! Perhaps you should pull all the big stocks off and let the new ones come up!
  • Kerry Morris Kerry Morris on May 19, 2013
    I think it's because of the drastic weather this spring.
  • Nancy Scott Nancy Scott on May 19, 2013
    Plants bloom. This is when rhubarb blooms. Simple as that. It is not stress or anything else. Tulips bloom in the spring and so does rhubarb. Cut off the flower/seed stalk where it emerges and the attached leaves (these stalks on the flower stalk are edible) or all energy will go to what the plant was meant to do, reproduce, and we want it to only produce stalks and leaves.
  • Losvlam Losvlam on May 20, 2013
    the adult rubarb will make flowers every year and make great items in flower arangements with other flowers
  • Pamela Knott Pamela Knott on Jul 16, 2015
    I was looking for an answer to the same question. If I leave these seeds on, will they produce new plants next year?
  • Vkeller Vkeller on Apr 22, 2017

    I was given a med size rhubarb plant to start in a container..Our ground is clay and not good drainage. Do I need another plant , Male and female to have success ?

  • Kathy Bitzan Kathy Bitzan on Apr 22, 2017

    I found this in a neighbors yard years ago and never knew why it did that. My son in law killed my rhubarb plant last year. It was at there house and I thought doing nicely, my daughter thought it wasn't getting enough sun. they moved and it died. I told her she couldn't compare a new plant to the neighbors who had there plant growing for 20+ years. be patient. they moved it any way.

    Thanks for the info.

  • Carroll Carroll on Apr 22, 2017

    Never cut rubarb pull the stock out. It is normal for it to go to seed keep the stalk pulled out I use rubarb from April to Sept.

    . Easy to freeze wash, trim and cut, bag and put in freezer. A wonderful taste of spring in the winter. My favorite is rubarb custard pie. Enjoy.

  • Vkeller Vkeller on Apr 22, 2017

    Thank You ! So excited to grow rhubarb.😊

  • Sau22462340 Sau22462340 on Apr 22, 2017

    That is called bolting. Comes early in growing season when warm. I just break the seed pod off as low to the ground as possible.. Don'let in place or plant will go to seed.