Rhubarb is a cool season, perennial
vegetable, grown for its leafstalks that have a unique tangy taste used for pies and sauces.
Rhubarb was first cultivated more than 2,000 years
ago in the Far East. Initially
it was grown for medicinal purposes, and not until the 18th century was it grown for culinary use in Britain and America.
Rhubarb requires winter temperatures below 40 degrees F to break dormancy and stimulate spring growth; and summer temperatures averaging less that 75 degrees
for good vegetative growth. The tops are usually killed in the first heavy freeze in the fall, but roots survive and produce new tops the following spring. While the leafstalks are edible, the leaves themselves contain oxalic acid and should not be eaten.
Soil
Requirements
Rhubarb will grow and produce on most soils, but grows best in fertile, well-drained soils that have good organic matter content. Careful soil preparation will help
rhubarb stay healthy and productive for many years. The planting area should be cleared of any weeds, especially tough, hard-to-control perennial weeds.
Other considerations for a planting site for
rhubarb include exposure and location. Earliness is favored by a southern exposure, free from shading trees or buildings. Since
rhubarb is a perennial, it should be planted to one side or at the end of the garden so as not to interfere with planting and growing annual vegetables. The rhubarb plant has bold ornamental texture and size, and some gardeners find it suitable to include in a perennial flower border.
Planting and Care
Rhubarb is generally purchased as crowns or divisions, rather than propagated from seed.
Purchase rhubarb crowns from a local nursery, garden center, or from seed catalogs. Plant the crowns as soon as possible so they don’t dry out.
Rhubarb crowns are best planted in early spring when the roots are still dormant or plants are just beginning to leaf out. Rhubarb can also be planted in the fall after dormancy has set in.
Each plant will require approximately one square yard of space. Loosen the soil to a depth of 10 inches. For each plant, prepare the soil by adding 3 to 4 inches of compost or well-aged manure and a handful of fertilizer that is relatively high in phosphorus and potassium, such as 5-10-10.
Cover the crowns with no more than an inch or two of soil.
Planting rhubarb crowns too deep will delay production. Press the soil firmly around the roots and water well. As soil and air temperatures begin to warm, new buds will push up through the soil.
Once the plants are up and growing, the addition of a 3- to 4-inch layer of clean straw, compost, or similar mulching material will help control weeds and conserve soil moisture for plant growth and development. Flower stalks should be removed as they appear, as they deplete reserves from the crown that supports vegetative growth.
Rhubarb, like most vegetables, requires regular irrigation during dry weather. Keep the soil moist but not soggy.
Rhubarb requires annual applications of fertilizer for good growth and continued production. Fertilize each plant with a handful of a 5-10-10 fertilizer in the spring. A midsummer fertilizer application will also benefit these vigorous plants.
Harvest
In order for the plant to become well established, leafstalks should NOT be harvested the first year and only a few the second year.
When the plant begins to produce slender
stalks stop harvesting leafstalks, a sign that its reserves are low.
Never harvest more than one-third to one-half of the plant’s stalks, in order to preserve enough foliage to sustain the crown. The stalks are most flavorful when fairly young, so harvest them soon after the leaf expands. Harvest by grasping each leafstalk near the base and pulling it slightly to one side. Stalks can also be cut with a knife.
Fresh rhubarb can be stored for two to four weeks at 32-36 degrees F and 95% relative humidity. Store in perforated polyethylene bags in the refrigerator crisper drawer for best results.
After the last harvest, the plants should be allowed to grow until killed by frost. After the tops are dead and the ground is frozen, the plants can be covered with 2 to 3 inches of straw mulch. Remove one-half of the mulch before growth starts in the spring.
Rhubarb leaves may be added to your compost pile. While the leaves contain oxalic acid, this rapidly decomposes in the
compost pile and has no negative effect on the quality of the
compost.
