Anyone who knows how to plant rhubarb correctly will be rewarded with bountiful harvests for many years to come. The following instructions would like to make a well-founded contribution to skilful cultivation in your garden.
How should I plant and harvest rhubarb?
Rhubarb should be planted in autumn or spring in a sunny, warm and wind-protected location with humus-rich, nutrient-rich and well-drained soil. The harvest begins in the second year and lasts from April to the end of June. Plant neighbors are bush beans, lettuce, broccoli and spinach.
When is it time to plant rhubarb?
Rhubarb goes into the ground in autumn or spring. Planting in September or October has the advantage that the soil in the garden is still warm. The roots establish themselves quickly and start the next year with a head start in growth.
What should the location be like?
The conditions at the location largely determine how successful the cultivation of rhubarb is. The top priority is that there was no rhubarb culture in the bed in the previous five years.
- sunny location, warm and sheltered from the wind
- humous soil, rich in nutrients
- well-drained, slightly moist to fresh
Accordingly, a location in the immediate vicinity of the compost heap is optimal. Here the nutrient supply is well taken care of, while the mighty rhubarb pushes the unsightly brown pile out of sight.
Planting instructions
Once the decision has been made about the appropriate location, the earth is first prepared. The cultivation itself is done in no time.
- Weed the bed soil thoroughly and rake it deeply
- incorporate finely sifted compost (€12.00 on Amazon) and horn shavings
- dig a 40-50 cm deep planting hole
- create a drainage on the sole made of inorganic material, such as grit or pottery shards
Place the rhubarb plant so deep that the buds are covered with soil. Now water the young plant generously and spread a thick layer of compost mulch. The planting distance is at least 100 cm.
When does the harvest season begin?
A freshly planted rhubarb needs a certain amount of time to establish itself in the garden. Experienced gardeners only start harvesting in the second year. From this point on, the rhubarb season extends from the beginning of April to the end of June.
St. John's Day on June 24th marks the end of the harvest season every year. As experience shows, the level of toxic oxalic acid increases as a result. In addition, knowledgeable hobby gardeners are now giving rhubarb a period of regeneration.
Tricky early harvest
Ingenious rhubarb lovers have discovered how to start the rhubarb season early. In mid-January, surround the plant with a ring of warming horse manure. Additionally, spread a cold-repellent garden fleece over the rhubarb.
Alternatively, a large bucket also does the job. Padded with straw, put an even larger bucket over it so that the rhubarb stays nice and warm. The result is a harvest up to three weeks earlier.
When is the rhubarb flower undesirable?
The magnificent flowering takes a lot of energy out of a rhubarb. This expenditure of energy comes at the expense of the coveted, refreshingly sour sticks. It is therefore advisable to remove the rhubarb blossom early. If you are cultivating an ornamental variety, there is of course no need to remove the flower.
A rhubarb plant should never be cut with a knife. The formation of rot would be unavoidable. You simply break off a flower with your fingers. When harvesting, turn the delicious stalks clockwise from the rootstock.
When should rhubarb be transplanted?
A he althy rhubarb has life energy for more than ten years. Since the plant is a heavy feeder, prudent gardeners plant it after seven years. At this time the bed soil is so depleted that the crop yield decreases anyway.
How does reproduction take place?
If you plan to transplant a rhubarb, this is the ideal opportunity for uncomplicated propagation by division. At the same time, the plant undergoes effective rejuvenation in order to deliver a rich harvest for many years to come. The following instructions show the way:
- Dig up the rhubarb over a large area in early autumn
- cutting the rhizome using the spade
- each segment has at least 2 buds
Then allow the cut to air dry before planting each section in the new location. If you also seal the wound with charcoal ash, cunning viruses and fungal spores will not find a target.
Can rhubarb grow in a pot?
Where there is no room for a large rhubarb in the bed, an alternative is to grow it in a pot. The most important requirement is a sufficiently large volume of at least 40 liters. The only suitable substrate is high-quality compost-based potting soil.
In terms of planting time, location and the various aspects of care, there are no differences to rhubarb plants in the bed. The only thing that might be necessary is moving more often, given the enormous growth rate.
Which plant neighbors get along with rhubarb?
In mixed cultivation, the following crops thrive alongside rhubarb:
- Bush beans
- Salads of all kinds
- Broccoli
- Spinach
Cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and other types of cabbage also cannot be defeated by a vigorous, space-consuming rhubarb.
Tips & Tricks
If you prefer to plant red-fleshed varieties, you will not only harvest particularly aromatic, mild rhubarb. At the same time, the harvested stalks contain significantly less oxalic acid than green rhubarb varieties.
