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New rhubarb planted too deep? #871497

Asked June 04, 2024, 11:07 AM EDT

We planted 2 nice Canadian Red rhubarb last summer. One is beautiful, large & healthy. One is small spindly floppy & appears to have 2 separate plants. I think it’s too deep. May I gently, widely partially dig it up,& put dirt under it? The 2nd photo is the one I’m concerned about

Sherburne County Minnesota

Expert Response

Hello Constance, 

Thanks for reaching out! I would recommend to wait to do anything with the rhubarb for another year. It takes two years for rhubarb plants to establish, and in the meantime, rhubarb may produce small and spindly stalks. 

Here are two helpful articles: 

https://extension.umn.edu/vegetables/growing-rhubarb https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/why-are-my-rhubarb-stalks-small-and-spindly

Good luck! 

An Ask Extension Expert Replied June 06, 2024, 5:13 AM EDT

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