My Grandma Maudie loved making Rhubarb Pie. I can
remember those homely looking plants with the reddish
green stalks that reminded me of rose colored celery. It
seemed like they had been in the same garden spot forever.
It's hard to image how someone discovered rhubarb's uses,
especially since only the stalks are edible, but the leaves are
poisonous! It's an old fashioned favorite that grows in our
Midwestern cities and in the country side. My husband
recalls his Grandma Ida making sauces, pies and jam with the
rhubarb that always grew behind their shed in somewhat sandy
soil. As a child, he thought it was a weed, but loved her jam
and pie.
If you would like to plant your own rhubarb, look for it at your
local garden center. It does need two months or more of cold
weather in Zones where the ground freezes. You can start it
from seed but the process is long and often the seeds do not
produce a true type of rhubarb. If you can "borrow" three root
divisions from a friend or family member that would be plenty
for one family. Choose a sunny, well drained spot that is out
of the way. Rhubarb is very long-lived and you won't want to
move it much, since it takes two years to really become established
before harvesting. You can harvest the stalks that are at least one
inch thick the second year, but you won't really have an abundance
of stalks until the third year. However, after this you will have all the
rhubarb you can pick during the spring months, which is the harvest
time.
Plant your divisions in a hole you have prepared by
digging your soil and mixing in compost or other
organic matter, such as decomposed leaves or
manure. It should be planted about 2" deep, with
one crown, or division, in each hole. Give them
plenty of room, about 3 foot apart if possible.
More Rhubarb Tips
Be sure to remove the flower stalks before they bloom
to help the stalks develop. After several years if the
stalks start looking thinner you will need to divide
the plants. Dig up the roots in the spring as they
begin to sprout and divide so each crown has
about 3 "eyes". Replant what you would like to keep
and give away the remaining divisions to friends and
family. Lastly, be sure to keep the area around your
rhubarb clean and weed around it so there is plenty
of air circulation, which will help keep it healthy.
A special note about frost and rhubarb. IF your plants
are exposed to frost, and you can see damage or the stalks
are mushy, DO NOT use them. If they have froze it can change
the plant, and it may be toxic. You CAN use the stalks if
they remain upright and are not damaged.
Once established, rhubarb will become a hearty,
dependable vegetable that will come back year after
year.
COMPOSTING RHUBARB?
I have a question for you that I have not been able
to resolve myself. My son laughs at me because I
won't put rhubarb leaves in the compost pile - but we
know rhubarb leaves are poisonous! It may sound
silly to you too, but we are so carefully organic, and
conservative with everything we use in the house
and garden, it just seems wrong to put something
poisonous back in to our garden. Can you tell me
the real story? I would really be grateful. ~Fran
I don't think it's a silly question at all! I had a gut
feeling about this, but did research to be sure, and
according to good sources it's okay to put rhubarb
in your compost. Remember, when we talk about
"poisonous" plants, it's much different than toxic
chemicals, which are man made and often don't
even break down. The Colorado State University
Extension website had this explanation:
"What actually occurs when rhubarb is added to a
compost pile is that the oxalic acid is decomposed
and pH balanced rather quickly. Thus, rhubarb leaves
tend to break down to non-toxic components quickly
in the average composting situation."
~Colorado State University Cooperative Extension
I really think you are safe in adding the rhubarb. One
thought is that oxalic acid is also in potato plants and
a few others, but we add those-- I wouldn't go so far
as to put in poison ivy, oak or sumac though:)
About the author:
Brenda Hyde is an avid gardener,
freelance writer, mom and wife. She is also editor of Old Fashioned Living. Please find information on subscribing to her newsletter here.
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