Once the family has acquired a taste for fruity, sour rhubarb, a single plant no longer meets the needs. It's a good thing that rhubarb is so easy to propagate. We explain how it works.
How can I propagate rhubarb by dividing?
To propagate rhubarb, divide the mother plant in autumn, dig it up over a large area and divide it with a spade. Plant the sections in planting holes enriched with compost and water generously.
Dividing rhubarb in autumn creates many new plants
If you want more specimens, early autumn is the best time for propagation. The new rhubarb plants will quickly establish themselves in the still warm soil. This means you are prepared for the coming cold season. Here's how to do it:
- dig up the mother plant over a large area
- cutting with a spade
- rake a generous dose of compost into the new spot in the garden
- approx. Dig 40 cm deep planting holes at a distance of 100 cm
- Plant sections and water generously
Drainage at the bottom of each planting hole serves as an effective prevention against waterlogging. Ideally it consists of inorganic material, such as gravel or crushed pottery shards.
Let the interface dry
Due to the impressive volume of a rhubarb rootstock, a correspondingly large cut is created during division. As a prophylactic against rot, it should be left to air dry for a day before planting. Powdered with pure charcoal ash, the wound tissue heals even better.
Winter protection after division is an advantage
Propagation by division always results in several young plants. To ensure that they survive their first winter well, the following protective measures are recommended:
- spread a ring of compost or horse manure around each rhubarb
- cover the plant itself with leaves, straw or pine fronds
- a garden fleece (€16.00 at Amazon) also serves as warm protection
If the cold season comes with frost, the young plants are in danger of drying out. Gardeners speak of cold frost when there are low temperatures without snowfall. You should therefore water the rhubarb offspring on frost-free days.
Tips & Tricks
With a simple gardening trick you can give your divided rhubarb plant an effective growth advantage. After dividing, place the root pieces in the bottom of the greenhouse or in a pot. Don't plant the rhubarb until next spring. After the frost-free winter, the plant sprouts more quickly.