Ask Gerry

Can you compost rhubarb leaves?

I know they are poisonous to humans but are there any good reasons why I should not spread rhubarb leaves around the foot of other plants to prevent weeds from coming up?

Don't know whether you can help me with this one want to make rhubarb jam with my surplus and as its low in natural pectin I wondered if you knew where I can buy it in Dublin. Have googled but nothing comes up.

I planted rhubarb in a shady patch of my garden last year, but moved it in spring to a sunny position once I learnt it needs a sunny location. There is a lot of growth on the plant now (end April) but all the stalks are green, and the centre stalk has gone to flower (it's about 4 ft high now). I'm wondering whether I should leave the plant alone to die back naturally, and hope to have edible stalks next year, or should I cut the flower stalk and / or some of the foliage now?

I bought some rhubard which was red in the advert but it is very green. What can I do to make it red?

I have had my rhubarb under pots for the winter to get them to come up early..there is signs of shoots now..would it be ok 2 take covers off now or should i wait til frosts are completely gone?

Is it a good time to move rhubarb now to different location? Read somewhere that its good to leave crowns/roots exposed to frost for more tender, red stalks. Is this true?

Is it safe to keep using rhubarb after july ? or is this an old wives tail! mine is just 2 years old but has exploded in the last 2 weeks? seems a shame to waste it.

I have great rhubarb stalks on first year rhubarb...about one inch thick...large leaves. can I use these as I heard they are not to be eaten until the second year. Also, can I cut it back due to the size at the moment ?

I planted my rhurbarb in a sunny/shady site in my garden,a few weeks now the leaves are being eaten away and the plant is wilting. What could cause this and is there any cures???

Rhubarb was growing o.k. Put organic compost around it 2 weeks ago and the leaves are turning yellow and stems are withering

This years Rhubarb has gone very thin and it was well manured with horse/household compost as it is every year. It was also split about 3 years ago. What can be done to improve it?

We have a small garden. We would like to plant strawberries as before. Every year Rhubarb that was planted by the previous homeowner over grows out of hand. How do I terminate the rhubarb from growing?

Can I do anything to restore this bitter, red, very dry rhubarb.It's been like this since I moved it from another part of the garden. I've added lots of manure but it,s still the same.

Gerry,Hello again. I have a number of questions so will send separately.My uncle currently wishes to rotate/turnover his back soil patch now the rubob is nearing the end of its growing season.He has a problem with running climbing weed. Basically an ivy type weed that grow on to anything it attaches itself to, with rampent roots that grow under the soil, spurting up fellow shoots. How and what is the best way to tackle this weed, ie, killing it/.It being impossible to take up every trace of the running root. is there sprays?