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RHUBARB GUIDES

rhubarb plants with tall red stems and green leaves growing from soil outside

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Rhubarb is a perennial vegetable that is widely grown for its sweet and vibrant stems for culinary purpose .

Part of the Polygonaceae family , rhubarb is thought to originate from Siberia and China , which is why it can sometimes struggle when grown in our very different climates.1Rhubarb ( Rheum species ): the role of Edinburgh in its cultivation and development . ( 2017 ) . Retrieved March 23 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/files/jrcpe_47_1_lee.pdf

rhubarb with thin red stems and small green leaves growing from moist soil

One of the most common issues gardeners can go through when growing pieplant is the production of slender , rather than wooden-headed stalk , which can be because of a number of factors :

We excuse each of these reasons with root down below .

1) A Lack Of Nutrients

Rhubarb plant life are thirsty affluent , so if they are not throw the right nutrient they may fail to thrive – and at last produce thin stalks .

In autumn or early spring , a world-wide - purpose fertiliser or mulch ofwell - rotted manureor organic matter can be give thickly around the crown of the plant , which will give it a hike for the growing season ahead .

Rhubarb prefers moist , but free - drain soil and will struggle if spring up in compact soil prostrate to waterlogging .

a rhubarb plant that has been cut back to its red and green stems in a large container outside

2) The Plant Is Immature

Newly plant rhubarb plant may produce weak and thin ontogenesis betimes on and should not be harvested until they are fittingly establish and able-bodied to deal being break up from .

To encourage a strong and vigorous plant for many years to come , it is advisable to go forth new works or divisions to take root and bulge up for at least 2 year before taking a harvest .

3) It Needs Dividing

Rhubarb plant are generally tough and can exist in excess of 10 years .

However , over fourth dimension they may become congested and produce washy bow , which is an indicant thatthey should be separate .

It is generally recommended that rhubarb plant plants are divided every 4 - 5 yr to supercede older specimen and maintain plant wellness .

harvested red and green rhubarb stalks lying on the soil of a garden bed it has just been cut from

4) Harvesting Incorrectly

When rhubarb stubble are harvest can also have a presence on the prow heaviness and size of it , as over - harvesting can subvert the flora and subsequent harvest .

Harvesting stanch from established plant life can loosely be performed from former fountain until early summer .

Although it might be tempting , cropping after June should be avoided to encourage a intelligent harvest home in the undermentioned year .

5) Flowering & Going To Seed

Although unusual , rhubarb plants can produce efflorescence stalks during the summer months which need to be swiftly removed .

These efflorescence stems , if given time , will go to seed and use up the industrial plant ’s precious energy , causing it to weaken and potentially acquire a miserable future harvesting .

To take the flowers , just burn the flowering stems at the base with a clean and precipitous knife .

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