Rhubarb Seeds

[Ratty]

I went to collect some rhubarb from a friend's garden yesterday and he admitted that he'd been letting the rhubarb run to seed in the past couple of years as he was just over-run with the stuff and lives alone. I collected a good bag full of the seeds and now wonder if these can be stored because I don't want to plant them in this garden (I don't plan to stay here for too many more years) or can I grow in a big tub? Any advice on rhubarb seeds and growing welcomed! Many thanks in advance.

[Clara]

You could try growing them in a container, you have nothing to lose. I failed last year so I started them in small pots and transplanted out a couple of months ago and since then they have had a real gowth spurt. I found that when I took them out of pots, even though the plants has about 3 leaves and were less than 3 inches high, the roots were long rather than spread out. Perhaps best to use as deep a container as possible.

That said, i´m now thinking that you should be able to transplant crowns if you move, so if you´ve the space, start them off in pots and plant out. I hope someone will come along and confirm this for me.

[Odsox]

I found that when I took them out of pots, even though the plants has about 3 leaves and were less than 3 inches high, the roots were long rather than spread out. Perhaps best to use as deep a container as possible.

I recently cleared the site for my new conservatory where my rhubarb had been growing for 10 years and I can report that the roots were well over 6 feet deep !
The replacement plants are doing very well in their new quarters and I'm looking forward to lots of rhubarb puds next year.

Not sure how long rhubarb seeds stay viable but I would guess it's several years, after all they ARE the same family as docks.

[Clara]

... after all they ARE the same family as docks.

I didnt know that, but now it makes seems obvious....you learn something every day, thanks