Today I acquired...........

Onoff · Dec 16, 2023

OJCar said:
Well, now is the time to move rhubarb.
Dig in plenty of muck and then a layer of muck on top as a mulch.

What manure? I've a choice of horse, cow or chicken.

OJCar · Dec 16, 2023

Onoff said:
What manure? I've a choice of horse, cow or chicken.

Farmyard muck, (mix of them all with some off the compost heap).

Plant it and do not harvest any for a full year to let it get re-established.
If it sends up something that looks like a flower, pull it off.
Feed with a mulch of muck in the spring and the autum.

OJCar · Dec 16, 2023

One of my rescue rhubarb babies.
(size 11 for scale ).

zx9 · Dec 16, 2023

OJCar said:
If it sends up something that looks like a flower, pull it off.

If you don't pull out the flower stems they get over 2M high, well they did in my Dad's old garden whilst we were dealing with probate / covid / putting the house on the market. etc.

I brought some down to London which has done ok over the last two years but it dose not like London clay as much as it did East Yorkshire loam.

OJCar · Dec 16, 2023

zx9 said:
If you don't pull out the flower stems they get over 2M high, well they did in my Dad's old garden whilst we were dealing with probate / covid / putting the house on the market. etc.

I brought some down to London which has done ok over the last two years but it dose not like London clay as much as it did East Yorkshire loam.

It is possible to let the rhubarb flower and set seeds to propagate, but it is much easier to use the division method.

Rhubarb does like decent soil with muck in it and does not like clay or very rocky soil.
Digging a pit and filling it with muck and riddled soil to plant in can help in clay or rocky soil.

Onoff · Dec 16, 2023

OJCar said:
Digging a pit and filling it with muck and riddled soil to plant in can help in clay or rocky soil.

Clay and chalk here. Looks like I'll be digging a pit then. How deep?

Onoff · Dec 16, 2023

zx9 said:
my Dad's old garden whilst we were dealing with probate / covid / putting the house on the market. etc.

Exactly the situation I'm in. Arranging to meet my brother there over Christmas and divide it up.

OJCar · Dec 16, 2023

Onoff said:
Clay and chalk here. Looks like I'll be digging a pit then. How deep?

3 to 4 foot - it can throw roots down to about 6 foot in good soil.

MattF · Dec 16, 2023

Don't make the pit over 3ft long, @Onoff. You don't want to be giving your missus ideas, & saving her a job.

Onoff · Dec 16, 2023

OJCar said:
3 to 4 foot - it can throw roots down to about 6 foot in good soil.

Digger time then here!

OJCar · Dec 16, 2023

Onoff said:
Digger time then here!

I thought you had a yoof at a loose end ?

Onoff · Dec 16, 2023

OJCar said:
I thought you had a yoof at a loose end ?

He's only gone and got himself a proper job! Putting that degree to good use at last.

Then the other one has got herself work experience at a graphics/printing place when not at college.

OJCar · Dec 16, 2023

Onoff said:
He's only gone and got himself a proper job! Putting that degree to good use at last.

Then the other one has got herself work experience at a graphics/printing place when not at college.

Well that's good news.
Hope it goes well for both of them !

Smouser · Dec 16, 2023

Kram said:
The small carbide bars, are you aware the 6 and 8mm with an insert fitted on center height, still need a 10mm hole or near enough, so I'd say 6mm is redundant. To do smaller holes you really need the rare, expensive 0401 inserts or solid carbide boring bars, also expensive

I have a really good selection and quantity of drill bits from 1mm - 13mm. Most are high quality Dormer bits I bought at an auction once as a job lot. Therefore, I can easily make 'rough sized' holes in stock on the lathe.

The whole reason for getting small boring bars were so that I can 'sneak up' to a desired ID of the stock in the lathe.

I might not use the 6mm much but I am sure it will be handy at some point. That being said, I have not used the boring bars yet and will see how they do/what is the minimum size hole I could do with the relevant boring bars.

OJCar · Dec 16, 2023

Onoff said:
He's only gone and got himself a proper job! Putting that degree to good use at last.

Then the other one has got herself work experience at a graphics/printing place when not at college.

BTW Does this mean as there is no one else about you'll have to talk to the wife?

:scared:

DAPPH · Dec 16, 2023

Onoff said:
Lad up the pub made this. Absolutely amazing! The rhubarb comes from The Rhubarb Triangle:

View attachment 429458

Used to have rhubarb in the garden here. Hope to once again. There's a clump in my Dad's old garden that my brother and I are going to split.

Let it run to seed and collect thousands of seeds off the seed stems , then grow the seeds in to plants the next year , splitting crowns is not always successful as some rot . Garden gate sell or give away a few dozen seedlings potted on into 10 inch pots .

Move the rhubarb every four years to prevent disease build up & soil depletion even if you do heavily manure the crowns or as said collect and sow seeds . Compost the old chopped up crowns

Don't use horse muck , their stomach system does not kill weed seeds the other ruminants and chickens usually do.

Well chopped comfrey is an excellent addition to the compost mix when green or directly worked in the top inch of the top soil around t5he crown .

DAPPH · Dec 16, 2023

OJCar said:
It is possible to let the rhubarb flower and set seeds to propagate, but it is much easier to use the division method.

Rhubarb does like decent soil with muck in it and does not like clay or very rocky soil.
Digging a pit and filling it with muck and riddled soil to plant in can help in clay or rocky soil.

Yes see my other post seed sowing is easier but takes two years for a really good crop
WRT London clay a couple of buckets of sharp sand mixed well with four or more buckets of well rotted animal dung & bedding manure ( not horse muck or hay & bedding ) will allow the crowns to stay dry , warmish compared to just clay and & be feeding off the compost

DAPPH · Dec 16, 2023

Onoff said:
Clay and chalk here. Looks like I'll be digging a pit then. How deep?

2x2x2 foot or bigger hole , the crown covered with four inches of soil & compost , chalk should give some drainage The funny thing is a lot of people plant the crowns upside down so they die .