Anyone who knows how to plant rhubarb correctly will be rewarded with bountiful harvests over many years. The following instructions aim to make a well-founded contribution to skilful cultivation in your garden.

When is rhubarb planting time?

Rhubarb gets into the ground in the fall or early 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 premise is that there had been no rhubarb culture in the bed in the previous five years.

  • sunny position, warm and sheltered from the wind
  • humic soil, rich in nutrients
  • well-drained, slightly moist to fresh

As a result, a location in the immediate vicinity of the compost heap is optimal. The nutrient supply is well taken care of here, while the mighty rhubarb pushes the unsightly brown heap out of sight.

Instructions for planting

Once the decision about the appropriate location has been made, the soil is first prepared. The attachment itself is then done in no time at all.

  • weed the bed soil thoroughly and rake deeply
  • incorporate finely sieved compost and horn shavings (32.93€).
  • dig a 40-50 cm deep planting hole
  • create drainage on the sole made of inorganic material, such as grit (46.95€) or broken pottery

Plant 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 start?

A freshly planted rhubarb needs some time to establish itself in the garden. Experienced gardeners only start harvesting in the second year of growth. From this point on, the rhubarb season extends from the beginning of April to the end of June.

St. John's Day on June 24 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 the rhubarb a time to regenerate.

Tricky early harvest

Resourceful rhubarb lovers have discovered how to bring the start of the rhubarb season forward. In mid-January, surround the plant with a ring of warming horse manure. In addition, spread a cold-repellent garden fleece over the rhubarb.

Alternatively, a large bucket will also do the job. Padded with straw, put an even larger bucket over it so that the rhubarb gets nice and warm. The result is a harvest up to three weeks earlier.

When is the rhubarb blossom undesirable?

The magnificent blossom costs a rhubarb a lot of strength. This expenditure of energy takes place at the expense of the coveted, refreshingly sour sticks. It is therefore advisable to remove the rhubarb blossom early on. If you cultivate an ornamental variety, there is of course no need to break out the flower.

By the way, a rhubarb plant should never be cut with a knife. The formation of rot would be inevitable. Simply break out a flower with your fingers. When harvesting, twist the delicious spears out of the rootstock in a clockwise direction.

When is rhubarb transplanted?

A healthy rhubarb has life energy for more than ten years. Since the plant is one of the heavy feeders, prudent gardeners convert it after seven years. At this time, the bed soil is so exhausted that the crop yield decreases anyway.

How does propagation 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 guide will show you the way:

  • Dig up the rhubarb extensively in early autumn
  • Use the spade to break up the rootstock
  • 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 find no target.

Can rhubarb thrive in pots?

Where there is no space for a voluminous rhubarb in the bed, cultivation in a pot is an alternative. 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. Only the conversion should be necessary more often, considering the enormous growth potential.

Which plant neighbors get along with rhubarb?

In mixed cultures, the following crops thrive alongside rhubarb:

  • bush beans
  • All kinds of salads
  • broccoli
  • spinach

Cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and other types of cabbage also do not let themselves be defeated by a heavy-consuming, space-consuming rhubarb.

tips and 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.

Category:

Vegetable garden