ᐅ Help, my rhubarb plant is suddenly becoming soft

I planted the rhubarb last year. This year it had already started to sprout, and the stalks were about 15 cm (6 inches) long. Around two weeks ago, I added compost and covered it with a mortar pot. I checked regularly... everything seemed fine... And then today, the shock... the plant is completely soft, as if it had been frozen... I had read that rhubarb is actually frost-tolerant... what could have happened?? :-(

If the leaf on the stem is not yet unfolded, which it should not be, the shoot is still young and quite soft and will "harden off" by April / May. This would be no cause for concern. I cannot say whether there is a disease – especially without a picture.

Here is a picture of the sad rhubarb.. :-(

Oh, it looks a bit damaged. Has it been chewed on anywhere?

No.. haven’t seen anything.. just muddy.. maybe the frost after all (even though there was a bucket on top)???

Yes, it is possible that frost damaged the cell structures.