I too live in ABQ, probably amount the most challenging gardening areas in the SW. I moved here 6 years ago from 15 years near the central CA coast; before that it was 20 yrs. In Phoenix.

Our winter was quite mild with lots of rain (for here) so, unless the roots rotted from too much H2O, I would chalk it up to poor quality root crowns, a problem I've had here with both rhubarb and bulbs. I'm always amazed when I see roots stored outside in cardboard or wooden boxes for months on end, left to dry out in our single digit humidity. You might have to resort to mail-order for them.

Good luck.

Thank you for your help. I also found out that I bought either female or male plants, I can't remember which that are less productive and that produce red berries. I did go on line and bought whichever gender that was the opposite of what I had. I have planted them just this weekend with some mushroom compost so we'll see how they do. We've been in Albuquerque for 11 years and this has been the most unusual spring we've experienced. So much rain and not the usual heat, for which we are grateful. I'm only hoping this much rain doesn't cause the mold that was on my grapes and peaches last year. I'm hoping that since the rain has come early in the production, that we might dry up in time for the fruit to be safe. We'll see.....