Rhubard seeds

[lincsyokel2]

I have collected a tea cup full of rhubard seeds off next plots plants.

Does anyone have any idea what to do with them now? Dry them and store them? Do they need cold? Plant them in compost, leave them outside and wait ?

I have this plan to mass produce rhubarb plants next spring, and sell them out the front of the house at 50p a go.

[lincsyokel2]

[rog_pete]

my understanding of rhubarb seed is that it is most difficult to germinate and grow from, it will take many years to establish into a suitable crown for cultivation

It would be much better to have a crown and split it into smaller plants when dormant

If I was a dragon in the den than I would be saying "Sorry I am out"  I do not think you will have anything worth 50p by next year

this of course is just my opinion

[Ellen K]

Suttons sells rhubarb seed and they advise sowing the seed now and planting out in the Autumn, which doesn't really fit your business model.  A bit like asparagus, it is going to be a few years before you get a significant crop even buying crowns that have been split from established plants. 

I think there are loads of things that would be easier to grow that you could sell for 50p/unit.  One of my fellow gardeners thinks chilli plants are the way to go.    But it is really hard work to make any money out of wily tightwad allotmenteers  :P you only have to look at the bargains galore posts to see that.

[lincsyokel2]

Yes, its not a serious business venture, i was just outraged at the price of 3 inch high rhubarb plants. Then when the rhubarb in the next plot seeded i thought it might be worth having a go.

I did a bit of googling, i have to break the seed dormancy, but there no agreement on what that constitutes. One site says the seeds have 'winter dormancy', so you have to give them cold below 45 degrees, so ive stuck some in a plastic bag in the freezer.

[grannyjanny]

I have a feeling Digeroo has grown rhubarb from seed successfully.

[Jeannine]

My rhubarb I have now was grown from seed. I took the seed from my UK lottie rhuibarb when we left the UK in 2009. It was planted last Spring and germinated well. I have no memory of it being a long time or poor germinattion. The seedlings were potted on like I would do my tomatoes but I kept therm in small pots last year as I really didn't have a place for them. I planted the small plants in the garden quite late in the year rather than over winter them. They have regrown this year. I think they would have been considerably bigger if I had not held them back.

I do know that rhubarb seed does not come true and even in my plants it is obvious by the colour of the stems that is true. Some plants have very red stems and some just pink.

I found they were very easy to do but would suggest if you grow them for resale as plants you simply call them rhubarb rather than a named vaiety

I currently havce about 18 plants from seed.

From my Canadain seed book it says.. sow in April and transplant or direct sow in mid May.Rated as esay to grow from seed.Seed life is given as three years  Don't harvest the first year after planting. One catalogue I have suggests soaking the seed fro 2 hours, the other does not and I didn't.

The roots need a cold dormant period to regrow but I don't think the seeds do.

Hope this helps..I would go for it.

XX Jeannine

[cambourne7]

Yep grew from seed not a problem a fellow plot holder grew 30 and gave them as christmas gifts :)

Just have to keep on top of the seed/flowers as plants grown from seed rather than division have more of a tendency to sprout seed/flower heads :)

And defiantly hold off on picking the 1st year, pick lightly the 2nd and go for it on the 3rd :)

[lincsyokel2]

My rhubarb I have now was grown from seed. I took the seed from my UK lottie rhuibarb when we left the UK in 2009. It was planted last Spring and germinated well. I have no memory of it being a long time or poor germinattion. The seedlings were potted on like I would do my tomatoes but I kept therm in small pots last year as I really didn't have a place for them. I planted the small plants in the garden quite late in the year rather than over winter them. They have regrown this year. I think they would have been considerably bigger if I had not held them back.

I do know that rhubarb seed does not come true and even in my plants it is obvious by the colour of the stems that is true. Some plants have very red stems and some just pink.

I found they were very easy to do but would suggest if you grow them for resale as plants you simply call them rhubarb rather than a named vaiety

I currently havce about 18 plants from seed.

From my Canadain seed book it says.. sow in April and transplant or direct sow in mid May.Rated as esay to grow from seed.Seed life is given as three years  Don't harvest the first year after planting. One catalogue I have suggests soaking the seed fro 2 hours, the other does not and I didn't.

The roots need a cold dormant period to regrow but I don't think the seeds do.

Hope this helps..I would go for it.

XX Jeannine

So are we saying its too late just to plant a few now?  Do i have to dry them and wait till next spring ?

[Jeannine]

No go ahaead and plant them now,, they will be OK XX Jeannine

[Robert_Brenchley]

If you want to stratify seed, use the fridge not the freezer, and keep it moist, in a pot or in damp peat. I've never heard of it being necessary for rhubarb, but I may be wrong.

[Larkshall]

But it is really hard work to make any money out of wily tightwad allotmenteers 

Especially if they're cyclists, another tightwad group (deep pockets and short arms).