How to Grow Rhubarb
Rhubarb is an easy to grow perennial, that is just beginning to be re-discovered.
It was popular in grandma's garden. Put a few plants in the ground where
they won't be disturbed, and they will produce for years. It will certainly
reward you with almost effortless production of stalks to enjoy.
Important: Rhubarb leaves are poisonous. Cut the stalk at the base
of the leaf and discard the leaves.
Varieties:
Did You Know? Asparagus is one of just two perennial vegetables, that
lives for several years. The other is Asparagus.
Sowing Rhubarb Seeds:
While seeds can be planted, they are most often propagated by separating
the roots, or crowns. A piece of root with at least one bud is planted
with the crown just at soil level. Plant outdoors as soon as the soil can
be worked. Rhubarb is hardy, and will survive late spring frosts. If there
is a really hard freeze, the leaves and stalk could be damaged, but new ones
will soon replace any that are damaged.
Space Rhubarb two to three feet apart. They will spread. Rhubarb tolerates
a little crowding, but the stalks and leaves will grow bigger and healthier
if you allow them plenty of space. A few plants is all you will need for
a home garden. If you are planting large quantities, space rows three feet
apart.
Days to Maturity:
Rhubarb can be picked in the spring as soon as the stalks are large
enough to harvest in sufficient quantity for the recipe you are planning
to use. Newly planted Rhubarb will be ready to harvest the following year.
How to Grow Rhubarb:
Before planting, select a location where they will not be disturbed for years,
and where they will not be in the way when tilling your garden in future
years. Rhubarb can be planted in partial shade, but prefer full sun.
Being easy to grow, Rhubarb will thrive in most garden soils. But, it will
reward you when compost and manures or fertilizers are added. Use a general
purpose fertilizer or high nitrogen mixture for well established plants to
promote leaf and stalk growth.
Make sure ample water is in the soil during the harvest period. After harvest,
don't forget to provide water to keep your plants healthy all year long.
As a rule of thumb, when watering the rest of your garden, water the rhubarb.
Healthy Rhubarb will grow and spread. Separate or thin the plants every five
years, or sooner if the plants become crowded.
Insects and Pests:
Insect infestations are fairly uncommon. For occasional infestations, use
an insecticidal soap or mild insecticide.
Diseases of Rhubarb:
Rhubarb is long lived, and suffers few diseases. On occasion, fungus and
crown rot can occur. Fungus problems are more common in wet and humid weather,
if the plants are crowded.
Harvesting:
You can harvest the leaves regardless of size. When harvesting, grasp a stalk
firmly close to the ground. Twist and pull the stalk, and it should break
free of the plant. While harvesting, pick the largest stalks first. Don't
let them get too big. Rhubarb stalks will remain sweet and flavorful until
the warm summer weather begins. Then, the stalks turn bitter.
Did you know? Rhubarb can be forced into growing earlier. While the
ground is still frozen or covered with snow, cover a couple of plants with
a five gallon bucket, preferably black. You can also use a thick layer of
straw or leaf mulch. The plants will begin growing earlier, and you can harvest
them days or weeks before your neighbors!
Hardiness:
Rhubarb is as hardy as vegetables come. They will begin to grow as soon as
the ground begins to thaw. No matter hold cold it gets in late spring, the
weather will not kill the plant, although in some cases it may damage the
first leaves.
More Information:
The Rhubarb
Compendium This is an "All you wanted to know about" site.
Rhubarb
History
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