We left a flower of rhubarb on the plant in the vegetable garden so that it could develop into a head of seed.
rhubarb-flower
rhubarb-seed-head
rhubarb-seed
The usual way to get a new rhubarb plant is to replant a piece cut off the crown (or root). It will take a long time to establish a useful rhubarb plant from a seed.
The colour of Rhubarb sticks is determined by:
An exception is Cawood Delight, a late variety harvesting from late May, which keeps a fantastic dep red stick.
Rhubarb flowers should be removed as soon as they are seen.
If the rhubarb flower is left on the plant, the root will be weakened & the stalks will be weak and thin.
Rhubarb (Latin name – Rheum rhabarbarum) often sends up flowering shoots at this time of the year.
If the rhubarb flower is left on the plant, the root will be weakened & the stalks will be weak and thin.
So, the rhubarb flowers should be removed as soon as they are seen.
rhubarb-patch-March
The tendency to bolting depends on:
To encourage leaf growth and discourage flowering of rhubarb:
* divide the crowns every 4-5 years to keep them young
* water during the harvesting period if in drought conditions
* feed with well rotted manure or fertiliser in early spring and autumn
* do not totally strip the root – always leave 4 or 5 stalks.
* stop pulling stalks after July, to allow the leaves to feed the root
* do not force each crown more than once every two years
* provide an open, sunny site in the vegetable garden
Although the rhubarb flower may add charm to the vegetable garden, it is not good for the production of rhubarb to eat.
The time to divide or move rhubarb is in the autumn or spring.
rhubarb-patch-oct27
rhubarb-bed-autumn
rhubarb-crown
rhizomes-&-buds
rhubarb-in-March
This book from Amazon has some good rhubarb recipes!
Now is a good time to divide or move rhubarb, but if time is short, spring will do.
Rhubarb produces a large crop from a small space. Now is the time to harvest the long tender shoots.
rhubarb-stalks
Any surplus is very easy to freeze, by chopping it up, placing it in a labelled bag and freezing it immediatley.
The first rhubarb is always best stewed. Follow these instructions from FarmingFriends
Click here for information on:
rhubarb-clump
So glad Freddie of the GreatBigVegetableChallenge likes rhubarb, and has been eating it straight from the vegetable garden.
We went to Wakefield to see the rhubarb sheds, which are surrounded by
huge water pipes carrying hot water to keep the sheds warm. Small
fireplaces in each shed glow as they heat the water for the heating pipes.
But the most amazing thing was seeing the stocky Yorkshire-men carrying
small candles into the shed to pick the rhubarb stalks. Only very small
flames are allowed, because the tender, pink stalks need absolute
darkness! The roofs are low, and there is a strange silence in the sheds.
For more information on rhubarb see:
* freezing rhubarb
* flowering rhubarb
* how long to pick rhubarb
Rhubarb crumble is the ultimate reward for growing rhubarb in the
vegetable garden.
Rhubarb (Latin name – Rheum rhabarbarum) often sends up flowering shoots at this time
of the year.
rhubarb-flower
The rhubarb flowers should be removed as soon as they are seen. Hold the
flowering-stalk close to the ground, and then pull upwards twisting the
stalk. If left, the flower will weaken the root, which will then produce
weak thin stalks.
The tendency to bolting depends on:
* the rhubarb variety – Victoria is more prone to flowering than
other varieties
* maturity – older plants are more likely to flower than younger ones
* weather – prolonged high temperatures and drought promote flowering
* poor nutrition
To encourage leaf growth and discourage flowering of rhubarb:
* divide the crowns every 4-5 years to keep them young
* water during the harvesting period if in drought conditions
* feed with well rotted manure or fertiliser in early spring and autumn
* do not totally strip the root – always leave 4 or 5 stalks.
* stop pulling stalks after July, to allow the leaves to feed the root
* do not force each crown more than once every two years
* provide an open, sunny site in the vegetable garden
* The rhubarb is ready to produce shoots.
* Force it up, by creating a dark environment.
* Cover it with a chimneypot, dustbin, or straw.
straw covering rhubarb
forced rhubarb has long, tender, light coloured shoots
Powered by WordPress
