Why does rhubarb flower

Scroll down for directions on how to remove the flower stalk. The flower head that comes up from rhubarb plants should be removed immediately when you first observe it. These flower stalks do not usually grow on younger plants, but are common on more mature plants that are 3 or more years older. To maintain and ensure the highest quality and maximum yield from your rhubarb garden, it is important that the plants not be allowed to go to seed.

Many people contact me and ask if it is okay to harvest and eat the rhubarb after it has flowered. The reason for this is, that, if the plant is left to allow the flower to go to seed, the plant devotes its energy to the seed production, and the development of leaf stalks is hindered. Using pruning shears , cut the flower stalk as close as possible to the main plant at the base, and discard it. If you do not cut the flower stalk off as low as possible, it may begin to rot and provide a home to slugs and other insects which may in turn damage the rhubarb plants.

Scroll down and see what Helen did with the flower stalks from her rhubarb plant! I Love her idea! Thanks for the photo above Marcus! Nor will they affect the flavor of the rhubarb. The simple reason is that it takes a plant a lot of energy to produce flowers and seeds and that is energy is being diverted from producing the actual edible stalks.

Ideally you really want to avoid letting your rhubarb plant even get to the point where there are flower stalks. Initially these long shoots start off as a seed pod at the base of the plant. As soon as you notice these seed pods remove them. Remove these flower stalks by cutting them with a sharp, clean knife as close to the base of the plant as possible.

Rhubarb flowers last a long time. Try putting them in a vase for a more exotic flower arrangement. With your seed pods and flower stalks removed your rhubarb plant can now focus its energy and producing a delicious and healthy yield of edible rhubarb stalks. If plants flower when we want them to, we call it blooming.

Flowering is an undesirable trait when growing rhubarb; therefore, bolting describes the event. Gardeners frequently ask why their rhubarb is bolting. Flowering is part of the reproductive phase that leads to the production of fruit and seed. And if allowed to mature seed, the resulting seedling offspring are often less desirable than the mother plant, which we paid good money to buy as a named cultivar. In fact, seedling offspring are often more likely to bolt than some of the more modern hybrid cultivars and can be vigorous enough or just numerous enough to take over the planting.

It does appear that some rhubarb plants are more prone to flowering than others. Old-fashioned varieties, such as Victoria and MacDonald, are heavy seed stalk producers. Canada Red and Valentine are less likely to bolt. Video Player failed to load. Play Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Share Facebook Twitter Mail. Broadcast: Sat 11 Apr , am. Published: Sat 11 Apr , am.