Rhubarb, rhubarb, rhubarb...

Hi all,

I've was looking for a bit of advice about moving rhubarb... I should first just warn that this is my first posting, and I'm not confident about uploading photos yet, so bear with me if it all goes pear-shaped (which would at least be novel for a posting about rhubarb).

So... I've been doing a bit of gardening (weeding / tidying) for someone. Here's one of the borders.



There were three rhubarb plants situated in the space you can see to the left of the spade, but they were very cramped and too close together. As such, you'll see below that I've dug up, split and moved crowns from two plants to the right of the border where there's more space, also mixing in plenty of manure. (This was an area entirely occupied by mint when I first came to help out in July).



I don't know quite how it's happened, but I now have multiple crowns left over - it's a bit 'sorcerer's apprentice', there's probably even more by now!).



The person I'm doing this for is an elderly man in a wheelchair who does enjoy his garden, and is happy for me to do whatever I can to make it a bit better. He knows I am pretty clueless about gardening, but is also very forgiving and is encouraging me to find things out and learn through experience... However, I don't want to let him down - I also know he likes rhubarb(!).

I guess my questions are:

• Should I have planted more of the crowns in the new rhubarb area?

• What can I do with the remaining crowns - I'm thinking about planting one in a large container for him (one, or multiple?)

• And, while I mull it over, the remaining crowns are sitting where I left them this morning - on the edge of the wall as my understanding is that they won't come to any harm and may even benefit from a bit of frost.

That's it basically. Phew... As per the subject heading a lot of rhubarb (I only hope there still will be!!)

 

If it were me, I’d stick in another crown, to the left of the other two, roughly where that stone is. If there isn’t space elsewhere to plant the remaining crowns, maybe give them away?

 

Assuming the customer likes rhubarb, so why not put them in another part of the garden.

To me that area looks more like an ornamental part of the garden, possibly herbs, wouldn't be my first choice of planting rhubarb in that spot to be honest.
But I guess its easy for him to pick, if grown there.

 

Many thanks for the responses, really appreciated.

Freddy - I'll add another crown to the left as you suggest. It means they'll be pretty close together, but hopefully that'll be OK. There's also the plant to the left next to the lavender - ot sure what it is, has leaves a bit like rosemary but they don't have any smell? It may end up needing to move or come out in time if the rhubarb gets too vigorous.

Pete - You're right that it's a slightly odd place t have rhubarb, but the chap I'm doing this for wants it where he can get to it in his wheelchair as you rightly guessed.

Shiney - I would try moving some to the area you suggested, but there's a peony up there, and presently a load of bulbs trying to come through. Access is also difficult for a wheelchair. As such, a container solution might be better, and I may even bring one home to plant in my own garden .