Gardening guides. See also. Plant finder Gardeners' calendar Pest and Diseases Gardening message board. Garden Organic Rhubarb info. Growing rhubarb. About rhubarb For a first-time vegetable grower, there isn't an easier place to start than with rhubarb. Settings Sign out. Support us Donate Careers Commercial opportunities Leave a legacy. Join the RHS today and support our charitable work Join now. Hot links Browse inspiration articles Buy plants online. Buy tickets. RHS members get reduced ticket prices Join now.
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Plant health. Take part in our research. Meet the team. Shop plants rhsplants. Shopping with the RHS. RHS Christmas gifts. Help us achieve our goals Make a donation. Join the RHS today and support our charity Join now. Save to My scrapbook. Jobs to do now Plant dormant crowns. Sow Rhubarb is rarely grown from seed the plants are slower growing than those grown from crowns, and the resulting plants will be more variable than crowns, which are clones of the parent plant.
Harvest rhubarb from late spring through the middle of summer. Prime rhubarb season is April to June. A good rule of thumb is to pick your rhubarb no later than July 4. The harvesting period typically lasts about 8 to 10 weeks. If you try to harvest your rhubarb too late, the stalks might get frost damage and be inedible.
A ripe stalk should be about the width of your finger. Leave thinner stalks on the plant to continue growing. Make sure the stalks are at least 8 inches 20 cm long. The longer the stalk, the more flavorful it will be. And while 8 inches 20 cm is the minimum length before harvesting, stalks that are between 12 and 18 inches 30 and 46 cm long are the most delicious.
Run your hand along the length of the stalk. If it's crisp and firm, it's ready to pick. Avoid judging a rhubarb plant's ripeness by its color.
Contrary to popular belief, how red or vibrant the stalks are does not determine how ripe the plant is. Not all rhubarb is a deep red hue. Some varieties of rhubarb are paler shades of red or even green when they're ready to be picked. Part 2. Twist and pull the stalks as close as possible to the base of the plant. Rhubarb stalks should always be twisted clean from the crown, as twisting or pulling invigorates the roots to produce more.
Pull gently, while twisting the stalk to ensure it comes away neatly. Make sure not to cut or damage the central bulb of the plant which can stunt its growth. Collect only a third of the stalks per plant each season. This avoids over-stressing the rhubarb plant. Always keep at least 2 stalks on a plant to encourage it to produce again in the next season.
Pull or cut the leaves from the stalk and discard them. The leaves contain oxalic acid, which is poisonous and should not be eaten. Remove the leaves with your fingers or use a knife or kitchen scissors to carefully cut them off the stalk. Then throw them away or add them to the compost.
Make a rhubarb spray from the leaves to keep the pests off plants in your garden like broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts. Do not feed the leaves to animals either! Tidy the plant by removing broken or flowering stalks from the base.
Never leave any broken stalks on the rhubarb plant as these can cause infections to grow. Either eat the pieces or discard them. Remove any flowering stalks, too. This allows the plant to focus on growing healthier stalks instead of flowers. Part 3. Wrap the rhubarb stalks loosely in aluminum foil. Lay the rhubarb along a sheet of aluminum foil and fold the edges over the stalks. Leave a small space for air to get in and out.
Place the wrapped rhubarb in the fridge for 2 to 4 weeks. The best spot in the fridge for your rhubarb is the vegetable crisper drawer because it has the highest humidity. After 1 month or if you notice moldy spots, toss any uneaten rhubarb. To freeze the rhubarb properly, first rinse it and pat it dry with a paper towel. Then chop the rhubarb into small pieces and put them in an airtight container or resealable freezer bag.
Place the container in the freezer to use within 1 year. Label your container or bag with the date and the contents using a permanent marker. Frozen rhubarb is great for smoothies or baking. If rhubarb that is several years old is transplanted to a new area, does that become its first year of growth?
Yes it does, when you only transplant the roots. I have gotten away with treating a transplant like a mature plant the first year by moving the whole plant and have been able to keep the roots moist and surrounded by the "old" dirt, the same way that you would plant a tree or a large scrub.
Not Helpful 9 Helpful Not Helpful 11 Helpful Chop or scissor the leaves into one inch bits. Boil for ten minutes in 4 cups of water.
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