PERENNIALS > RHUBARB > VARIETIES
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As a reliable performing artist which can hold the Great British wintertime with ease and returns each class without fail , it ’s unsurprising that rhubarb is an more and more popular alternative in veg patches across the state .
Although apparently a vegetable , it ’s invariably incorporate into culinary dishes in the form of a fruit , adding sweetness and tartness to PIE , bakes , sauces , hole and other desserts .
Grandad’s Favourite
Of course , we ’re all familiar with Maris Pipers , King Edwards and Yukon Golds , but it ’s less common for people to differentiate between varieties of rhubarb plant .
Speaking honestly , that ’s because there ’s a subtle distinction in the taste and texture of different rhubarb types .
Having said that , there are still discrepancies between the varieties , but these mostly revolve around the colour of the plant ’s stalks and the optimum harvest time of the cultivar .
Here are eight of our favourites for you to choose from the next clip you ’re wait to raise some rhubarb plant in your own back garden .
1) ‘Timperley Early’
First sell commercially in 1945 , ‘ Timperley Early ’ is – as the name might suggest – one of the earliest mixed bag of rhubarb plant usable , even without forcing.1Rhubarb “ Timperley Early . ”(n.d . ) . Burncoose Nurseries . Retrieved March 23 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/plants.cfm?pl_id=3700
It can be glean in early- to mid - April , and though it only produces medium output , it ’s a perennially popular selection because of the rapidness of its growth .
The colour is a substantial red , though it will languish to putting green in warm clime .
Stalks are longer and thinner than some other options on this list , while the gustation of the rhubarb is specially sweet .
As such , you may need to temper the amount of sugar you sum up to a formula when using Timperley other rhubarb .
2) ‘Victoria’
First introduced in 1837 , this is one of the oldest rhubarb variety on the market – and it ’s still move strong due to its myriad attractive qualities.2Rhubarb , rhubarb : why Victoria still reigns supreme . ( 2010 , March 25 ) . The Irish Times . Retrieved March 23 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/homes-and-property/gardens/rhubarb-rhubarb-why-victoria-still-reigns-supreme-1.643694
It is a safe raiser that produces heavy return , while its unassailable stalks are a deep red in color fading to green further towards the leaf and it prevail an dainty flavour .
The mouthful is slightly more bitter than others on the leaning , but it stay a favourite in Scotland where it is often used to make muddle , marmalades and other conserve .
It will be ready to harvest slightly later in the season ( think mid- to late - May ) unless forced , though it does lend itself well to those who opt to betroth in that practice .
3) ‘The Sutton’
date stamp back to 1895 , ‘ The Sutton ’ is herald as have one of the best sapidity of any rhubarb plant anywhere in the world.3The Sutton . ( 2019 , March 13 ) . Brandy Carr Nurseries . recall March 23 , 2023 , fromhttps://brandycarrnurseries.co.uk/product/the-sutton/
For that reason , it ’s stay supremely popular for over one - and - a - quarter centuries and is freely available from garden centres and rhubarb plant glasshouse up and down the country .
Another string to its bowknot is the fact that ‘ The Sutton ’ can invariably be relied upon to farm a strong yield of stem of average thickness , even if they do have a tendency to turn at an angle and can come in a spectrum of colours .
A late boner compare to others , ‘ The Sutton ’ is ready for harvesting between mid - May and former - June .
4) ‘Stockbridge Arrow’
As the name paint a picture , ‘ Stockbridge Arrow ’ is like a shot recognisable from the pointer cast of its leafage .
Developed in England during the sixties , it ’s a more recent addition to the pieplant canon but one that ’s no less popular for the recency of its arrival.4Stockbridge Arrow . ( 2022 , April 29 ) . Brandy Carr Nurseries . Retrieved March 23 , 2023 , fromhttps://brandycarrnurseries.co.uk/product/stockbridge-arrow/
In fact , many experts regard ‘ Stockbridge Arrow ’ as the premium choice when it comes to cultivating rhubarb plant in a private garden .
That ’s because it delivers strong and prospicient stems which hold their colour longer than most and give rise a delicious taste bursting with fragrancy .
A supreme all - round performer .
5) ‘Glaskin’s Perpetual’
Another prospect for the stance of strongest all - rounder , ‘ Glaskin ’s Perpetual ’ is favoured for its impressive spirit and extended harvesting meter .
When most coinage have accumulated too much oxalic acid to make their stems toothsome , this feisty individual is still good to deplete well into fall .
Its soft pink and green stem colouring position some masses off , but the sweetness of its relish and the longevity of its pick time of year more than make up for those drawbacks in our opinion .
We ’re not alone , either ; ‘ Glaskin ’s Perpetual ’ is a perpetual pet with amateur gardener around the country .
6) ‘Canada Red’
Instantly identifiable by the brightness of its descent - ruby-red stalks , ‘ Canada Red ’ carries a peculiarly sweet taste that means you wo n’t postulate quite so much sugar in your formula .
What ’s more , the pleasing contrast of the plushy gullible foliage against the crimson stalk enhance the aesthetical appeal of your garden , too .
The plant generally grow up to about a metre or more in top and should grow harvestable bow for about five geezerhood before its office will wane .
It can be reap anytime between April and June , depending upon the specific plant in interrogative and the conditions in your part of the UK .
7) ‘Livingstone’
This modern cultivar was bred in Britain with one expressed role – eliminate the summertime quiescency to reach a double harvest !
For those who really love their pieplant , then , it ’s an splendid option , since it will allow you to savor the fruits of your labour once in leaping and then again in fall .
The stems themselves are full - corporate and gain around 60 atomic number 96 in distance , while their succulent taste and stringless grain nail the attractive package .
However , you may have to waitress up to two years after engraft to reap your first harvest , reckon on the adulthood of the root musket ball at the outset .
“ I pull my Rhubarb ‘ Livingstone ’ on gyration so each flora has a two - year rest , ” shares Horticultural Consultant Dan Ori .
“ The dish of forcing some of your plants is you have an former ship’s boat harvest , a natural spring harvest time and an fall harvest of the same variety in one class . ”
8) ‘Champagne’
Available to be harvested from April onwards , ‘ Champagne ’ is one of the earliest rhubarb plant varieties out there .
Its stem bid up a beautiful colour whenever they ’re pick , but you may encourage a gorgeous pink chromaticity by ram them or permit them to mature for a darker crimson .
Slender in girth and intermediate - sized in length , they ’re often regarded as one of the best rhubarb plant types for drive and indeed , one of the best to grow from a general standpoint .
prosperous to grow and reliable to return with the same fruitful production each class .
“ When I am ask by someone who has never grown Rhubarb before what variety to pick , I recommend ‘ Champagne ’ due to its all - around performance and other harvest , ” Dan enjoin .
“ presently , ‘ Champagne ’ is my favourite ram variety , with the trick being to remove the forcing smoke two weeks before harvest . ”
