Rhubarb growing guide
Would n’t you eff a plant in your vegetable garden that you did n’t have to commence every year ? Get a rhubarb patch going , and you ’ll have peck of this tasty yield every spring and summer forpies , jams , sauces and syrups .
As a fillip , the plants are beautiful , with vibrant red stems and enormous green leaves . Here are four thing you need to know to successfully grow this Graeco-Roman perennial . Whether you ’re a seasoned gardener or a initiate , postdate these tips for winner and you ’ll be able-bodied to enjoy its vibrant stem for many seasons , in both the garden and the kitchen .
Rhubarb (Rheumxhybridum)
TypePerennialWhen to plantIn former spring , when grunge temperatures reach 50 degrees F , or in late gloam when crowns are dormantHow many to plantOne plant is enough for fresh eating and preserve for a family line of four . LightFull sunlight to part shadeSoilFertile , moist , well drainingWhen to harvestWhen stalks are 12 to 18 inch long after the second or third yearCold hardyUSDA zone 3 to 8
MYTH : The entire rhubarb flora becomes vicious by midsummer . FACT : While the root word are never toxic , rhubarb leaves are toxicant in every time of year ; do n’t eat them !
Where is the best place to plant rhubarb?
pieplant thrives in full sun with prolific , damp , well - drained filth . Grow plant life in an separated blot where the root wo n’t be disturbed from foot traffic or at the front of a mete , where they ’ll have room to spread . If you ’re not certain which rhubarb change is the effective convulsion for your garden , watch out a few normally available varieties and the difference between them in “ Different types of pieplant to hear ! ” below .
Even gardener in zone 3 can count on rhubarb plant to be inhuman stout . Although industrial plant are super long- lived in northern gardens , in zona 7 and warmer , alternatively of full sunshine , plant in part shade to avail prevent leaf scorch in summer ’s heat . In zones 9 and lovesome , treat rhubarb like a winter annual and harvest in March or April .
Grow rhubarb from crowns
you could start a pieplant patch from seed , but the easiest path is to bribe 1 - year - erstwhile poll or get variance from a friend . Plant crowns 3 feet apart and 4 in deeply — crowding may encourage crown bunk or powdery mildew . If you ’re taking partition , to contract the jeopardy of transplant jar , dig up the total plant in other spring as soon as plant are startle to emerge or when it ’s inactive in former fall . Witha spadeor a soil tongue , break open each plant into section with two to three foliage . Replant divisions with the largest rootage system of rules at the same astuteness they were uprise before you dug them up , and water them in .
How to fertilize rhubarb
For thick stems and big leaves , sprinkle a balanced granular fertiliser or spread 1 to 2 inches of aged manure around plants in early spring , avoiding the crown so the plant food does n’t cauterise emerging outgrowth .
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Different types of rhubarb to try!
Whether you ’re take care for classic , stringless or heat - tolerant varieties , there is a rhubarb for you . tick off out a few of our favorites below :
‘ Chipman ’s Canada Red ’ rhubarbHeat - broad , 2- to 3 - foot - tall - and - full plants grow mellow yields of long , thick , deep red stalk . When cooked , the naturally mellisonant stalks wield their color .
‘ Crimson Red ’ rhubarbStringless , brilliant crimson - crimson stalk bring out a sweet and tart flavor on 2- to 4 - foot - tall and 2- to 3 - animal foot - wide plant . show above . Budded Root Divisions Available from Renee ’s Garden Seeds .
Hardy Tarty ™ rhubarbHeat - tolerant , dense , nonstringy reddened stalks with exceptionally sourish flavor . 24- to 36 - inch - tall and 24 - to 30 - column inch - wide works .
KangaRhu ™ rhubarbHeat - large-minded variety that produces dark red stalks that maintain color and flavor well when ready . Plants are 24 to 36 inches tall and 24 to 30 inches wide .
‘ MacDonald ’ rhubarbTender cherry stalks are fast grow and extremely resistant to rootle rotting and wilt disease . plant are 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 4 foot all-encompassing .
‘ Victoria ’ rhubarbHeirloomvariety that ’s well-off to grow from seed . Plants make tender , thick-skulled , bright crimson and dark-green stalks with a mild sweet relish and no stringiness . Plants are 30 to 36 inches grandiloquent and 24 to 36 inches wide .
How to harvest rhubarb
If plants are maturate from crowns , start out harvest rhubarb in the 2nd year , but if they were started from seed , wait until the third year to harvest . In late spring , when a stalk is 12 to 18 inches long , contain it firm at the base , twist and pull to harvest . Cutting stems increase the risk of diffuse disease , and remnant stubs are possible points of entry for pests . Harvest just a few stems at a time to avoid wipe out the plant . Remove bequeath immediately to prevent stalks from wilt , wrap the stems in a moist newspaper towel inside a plastic old bag , and storehouse stems in the refrigerator until you ’re quick to apply them .
Stop harvest in early summer when the plant is no longer sending up fresh stalks or you ’ll deoxidize the calibre and take of next twelvemonth ’s crop . In summertime , mature flora ( three years or older ) will start to bolt , or flush . edit off their salad days so free energy can go back to the crown for next year ’s growth .
Did you know you can force rhubarb?
If you wish you could reap rhubarb even earlier , stress using a forcing pot ! It ’s an prosperous and simple way for rhubarb plant enthusiast to delight those sweet stalks even sooner . Learn more about how to squeeze rhubarb here .
