As a heavy feeder, rhubarb is anything but a hunger artist. Proper fertilization is therefore the decisive factor for successful cultivation. Which nutrients are important and how they are administered is not a closed book.

Organic fertilizer satisfies the great hunger for nutrients

All other aspects of caring for a rhubarb plant revolve around the adequate supply of nutrients. For environmentally and health-conscious hobby gardeners, the use of chemical preparations is out of the question. Rather, the following organic fertilizers are the focus of fertilizer activities:

  • Spread a thick layer of mulch from sifted compost immediately after planting
  • Work well-rotted garden compost into the soil weekly from February to June
  • additionally mulch with pine needles, leaf compost and grass clippings

Where a compost heap is not available, hobby gardeners turn to natural alternatives. Certified organic products for the nutrient supply are available in specialist shops. They are composed, for example, of beet pulp, horn meal and microorganisms. In addition, algae sap is a talk of the town as an effective fertiliser.

Fertilize with a high nitrogen content only after harvest

After the end of the rhubarb season, nitrogen becomes more important for the nutrient supply. The plant should now regenerate and gather strength for the next year. You should give preference to the following organic fertilizers from the end of June:

  • Plant manure made from stinging nettles, comfrey, field horsetail
  • Horn meal and horn shavings (32.93€) are rich in nitrogen
  • deposited stable manure of all kinds, preferably horse droppings
  • Guano (€121.99) consisting of excrement from seabirds, as sticks or grains

Algae juice is ideally suited as a liquid fertilizer for rhubarb in tub culture. With green and brown algae as the main components, the fertilizer provides the heavy feeder with all the important organic nutrients and minerals.

Planting rhubarb at the fertilizer source

Regular fertilizing with compost takes energy. The task is to shovel the heavy material onto the wheelbarrow, transport it to the rhubarb and work it into the ground. Inventive hobby gardeners therefore plant their rhubarb in the immediate vicinity of the compost heap.

tips and tricks

If the harvest cannot start early enough, you can cover your rhubarb with a thick layer of well-seasoned horse manure from January/February. The natural material not only releases plenty of nutrients, but also warms the soil so effectively that, with a bit of luck, the first spears can be harvested as early as March.

GTH

Category:

Vegetable garden