'Out of date' packs of rhubarb

Saw some 'Jamie Oliver' branded boxes of rhubarb - one root each of Red Champagne, Suttons Seedless and Raspberry Rhubarb with instructions on the box to plant ASAP and between Sept - Dec.

As they were (boxes of 3 roots) reduced to 50p each, I thought I'd take a punt on one of them. The soil the root pieces are in smells fresh and hasn't dried out, on 2 of the roots are firm, there's no sign of decay, and small shoots were showing, but the 3rd was a gonner. I've just put planted them in three 5" pots and was going to keep them indoors for a while until this cold spell passes, then put them in a cold frame to harden off before planting in their final positions.

I've only ever acquired rhubarb from massive lumps of root dug up in the autumn and this potting up fiddly little bits of root is new to me, so:


1) Am I wasting my time as it's now February?

or

2) Is it worthwhile buying a few more packs at that price? (even if I get only 2 plants for my 50p)

 

I'd go for it Scrunge, i've grown from seed before & they grow really fast.

 

Depends how much Rhubarb you eat

I've only got a couple of roots and that produces all we would want to eat and more ...

... although if you have more roots on the go you could force some each year (and then "rest" it the following year).

 

I went back to get the all rest but some greedy git had beat me to them. At least I have 2 OK plants.

It's just that my rhubarb bed has become so weed ridden I was thinking of getting a second one established and then sorting out the original one in a couple of years. Lots of plants would have meant I'd only need to pick a little from each one and not overdo it.

 

Thats a shame Scrunge, still, like you say 2 is better than none.

That sounds like a good plan, even if you end up with too many plants, you can car boot the spare ones. I split one clump up into three 2 years ago, didn't pick from those last year, should be good to go this year.

 

I saw some potted rhubarb plants at a garden centre with seriously droopy leaves, so can I assume if they get sold off for 50p each they'll still be OK? (as dug up roots get deliberately frosted before re-planting, but never done that myself)

 

Did you know that Rhubarb is not a Fruit, its technically a Mollusc.

 

but i thought i was a veg

 

Source Wikipedia

I'm having a dig at the yanks Kaz:D

Esther Redstar not included of course

 

Yes I do!