Life cycle of rhubarb?

My rhubarb plant, about 10 years old, has failed to appear, and I can find no sign of the roots in the soil. It has put out flowering stalks the last few seasons, which I have cut back. Any ideas if the plant just died off? It usually has made an appearance by now. Guess I will need to start over.

Rose 40 years ago I was moving so I gave my friend my roots. About three years ago I got some starts back from him.

Have you been giving your plants a good dose of humas ? Rotted down cow poo is as good as it gets. We also believe in when harvesting to cut off the leaves and throw them around the stalks.

When the stalks slow down we dig the roots and devide it did you ever devide yours?

And yes I guess it is gone if you can't find any of the root growing and the time is right. Are you sure there isn't any root ? as this was a cold winter in your part of the world.

I will wait and see if I get anything. It was a very hot summer last year, but we had enough rain. Thanks for the input.

Rhubarb more or less goes on for ever. Here the temp drops to -30 Celsius, but it still sprouts reliably year after year.It sounds as if yours has been attacked by something; but being unfamiliar with your part of the world I've no idea what. There's quite a useful page at http://www.rhubarbinfo.com/growing . If possible I suggest you don't plant in the same place.

Pat

Thank you. It must have died for some unknown reason. I will try again, as you suggest, in a different location.

The past several years my rhubarb has done GREAT, but last year I let it go to seed, I didnt know at the time to cut the flowering stalks down,b/c the plant will put all its energy into the seeds instead of leaves. so far this year Ive not seen any comming up and usualy they are up when the poenys are up, any ideas. thanks Rose

No, Sorry. My rhubarb is dead and gone. It has put up flowering stalks for years and I guess it was tired. I have started over in a new location. It was never happy where it was anyway. Good luck.

The fact that the rhubarb was never happy probably does indicate that it wasn't growing in a good place. Was it really wet or way too dry? I had to start rhubarb in a couple of different places before I had success. I found that weeds can overtake the plant and kill it. I had the best luck when I planted the rhubarb in my garden, but on a far side of it. That way I can watch it for weeds and sufficient water. Rhubarb is also a heavy feeder as eweed said. I try to put a layer of horse manure over the roots every fall after dieback. I even will throw some 10-10-10 around it before a rainstorm in the summer. I probably harvest less than a quarter of the patch at a time, but I do harvest all summer long. To be on the safe side you might want to look up how much you can harvest at a time. Good luck. I love rhubarb and make a wonderful jam that seems to get eaten way too fast!

Thanks.