Follow These 15 Steps to Grow Rhubarb
Growing rhubarb is a rewarding and relatively easy process. Follow these 15 steps to cultivate your own rhubarb patch:
1. Choose the Right Location: Select a sunny spot in your garden with well-draining soil. Rhubarb prefers at least 6-8 hours of sunlight daily.
2. Timing: Plant rhubarb crowns (dormant roots) in early spring or late fall when the soil is workable and temperatures are cooler.
3. Purchase Healthy Crowns: Buy high-quality rhubarb crowns from a reputable nursery or garden center.
4. Prepare the Soil: Before planting, enrich the soil with well-rotted compost or aged manure to improve fertility and drainage.
5. Planting Rhubarb Crowns:
Dig a hole about 1-2 feet deep and wide enough to accommodate the rhubarb crown.
Place the crown in the hole with the buds facing up, and cover it with 2-3 inches of soil.
6. Spacing: Plant each rhubarb crown at least 3-4 feet apart to allow sufficient space for its spread.
7. Watering: Water the newly planted crowns thoroughly to help them establish roots.
8. Mulching: Apply a layer of organic mulch (straw, wood chips) around the plants to retain moisture and suppress weed growth.
9. Avoid Harvesting in the First Year: Allow the rhubarb plant to establish itself during the first year and refrain from harvesting any stalks.
10. Limited Harvest in the Second Year: In the second year, you can harvest a few stalks, but avoid taking more than a third of the plant to maintain its strength.
11. Proper Harvesting:
When the stalks are about 10-15 inches long, grasp one firmly at the base, then pull and twist it away from the crown.
Always leave a few stalks on the plant to continue photosynthesis and support future growth.
12. Regular Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during hot and dry periods.
13. Fertilizing:
In early spring, apply a balanced fertilizer or compost around the plant.
Avoid using high-nitrogen fertilizers, as rhubarb prefers a balanced nutrient supply.
14. Remove Flower Stalks: If the plant produces flower stalks, promptly cut them off to direct energy back into leaf and stalk growth.
15. Winter Care: Before winter, cut back the rhubarb stalks to ground level. Apply a thick layer of mulch around the crown to protect it from freezing temperatures.
By following these steps, you’ll have a thriving rhubarb patch that can provide delicious stalks for years to come. Rhubarb is a perennial plant, so with proper care, it will keep coming back season after season. Enjoy your harvest and the delightful desserts you can make with this versatile vegetable!