Garden

[Pooky1]

We have had a rhubarb plant for about 5 years and its grows great and produces alot but last year it looked awful and didn't produce any.I thought it was dying but so far this year its looking good. We will see what its does this year.

[PA Mom-mom]

I didn't think anything could hurt rhubarb. It was practically a weed on my grandparents' farm. Just make sure the animals can't get to it. It's toxic to them. 

Your post reminds me of a funny exchange I heard on TV or the radio when I was little:

"Do you think the rain will hurt the rhubarb?"

"Only if it's in cans."

"What, the rain?"

"No, the rhubarb."

I have a feeling I've shared this before on the forums, but I'm kind of forgetful lately.

[candys mine]

@Pooky1  Time will tell.  Rhubarb is tough.  It took Years of neglect before the neighbors rhubarb plants gave up the ghost.  Even after being mowed down a few times it just sort of got smaller and smaller every year.

a couple of thoughts are Rubarb needs Cold in winter to thrive.  Was it a mild winter before?

Was it rainy that year?  If the plants were sitting in mud it may have hurt the roots.

It always produced a lot.  Over picking can decrease the plants ability to store energy to grow the next year.

Don't let it send up a flower spike or it'll spend all it's energy to making seed instead of feeding it's roots.

[cindyNC]

I'm so jealous!  Living in the south, we can't grow rrhubarb.  Dole stopped producing frozen rhubarb so I've resorted to Oregon Canned Rhubarb from Walmart.