rhubarb buds

The Rhubarb just keeps growing.

Today I noticed these swollen buds deep in the largest plant; at first I thought it was going to make another group of leaves but no; it's flower buds! I guess the fact that it's trying to flower means my plant is healthy and mature, but I must cut them off- otherwise the plant puts too much energy into flowering and not enough into the leaves for next year's growth. So I've read.

For the moment I've left them alone as they look so curious, but as soon as the stem lengthens a bit I'm going to chop them off.