
Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Rhubarb
Check out our list of best rhubarb recipes to put your fresh rhubarb to good use! Plus, learn how to make a rhubarb tonic.
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My aunt wants to know if you plant the blooms off the rhubarb?
What variety of rhubarb is pictured on this page?
The rhubarb I have growing next to my compost is stunning and is from my parents' rhubarb patch. The rhubarb patch was there when they bought the house 65 years ago. I have no idea how long it was there before that. They have since passed away and the house has been sold. All eight of us kids have taken a portion of the rhubarb patch. There is still plenty for the new owners to enjoy. Each spring, our conversation about mom's rhubarb comes up. I feel like it is a part of American history. It grew next to an old barn where the chicken coop was, so obviously very well fertilized. The patch was allowed to grow and spread as it wanted. Mom was an excellent cook and each year we cherished the delicious rhubarb pies.
I have a 4 ft. by 12 ft. raised bed of rhubarb. I inherited the roots about 15 years ago it when my aging father wanted to close down his gardening. The roots originally came from my grandparents place (mother's side), split off from their stock that they had been keeping going since the mid 1920's!! I have no idea what variety it is but I guess it would be considered 'heirloom"! I always know spring is here when I notice the rhubarb budding up from the ground.
It does well in the raised bed but does need some manure top dressing this year. I decided to establish my rhubarb in a raised bed to keep weeds at bay. I remembered the difficulty of weeding the ground level bed my dad had them in. They were at the edge of the garden and lawn, grass was always invading the rhubarb, and it made for quite a chore to clean it out. My raised bed has been successful at minimizing weeds. Every year it provides all the rhubarb I need and can share. I have even sent a huge bundle overnight express (yes, $$, that was a bit pricey!) to a colleague in El Paso Texas after he visited this area (upstate NY) for work and I shared some rhubarb pie (NEVER with strawberries!!!) with him that he loved! Once I have harvested all I want I leave the plants to grow and feed the root. I only have to cut off the flower stalks and pluck leaves as they age and are replaced by new ones.
Also, I have heard that rhubarb leaves can be used to make a "tea" (extracting the acids and toxins) to make a natural pesticide. Does anyone else have any insight into making or using that?
Sounds like a fabulous crop you’ve got!
We are aware of a Rhubarb Julep https://www.almanac.com/recipe/rhubarb-julep and Rhubarb Punch https://www.almanac.com/recipe/rhubarb-punch
Here’s a classic from the [Harry S] Truman library archives: Put rhubarb slices into boiling water. Boil for 10 to 15 minutes, then strain the liquid through a cloth or fine strainer. Reheat the tea liquid and add a cinnamon stick. Let it simmer a few minutes and then steep briefly. Sweeten as desired, after tasting.
Hope this is what you’re looking for!
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