| Note: Rhubarb leaves are toxic, so never eat them. | | | | hardly feel the competition. Mulching in this case would |
| The stalks are awesome, so eat them as much as | | | | depend on how well your soil holds water and how |
| possible. One cup of chopped rhubarb stalks contains | | | | many weeds grow up around the rhubarb. |
| 13 percent of your daily value of vitamin C and a | | | | Harvesting |
| whopping 68 percent of your DV of vitamin K. It also | | | | The harvesting period for rhubarb extends throughout |
| contains significant calcium, manganese and potassium. | | | | the spring and early summer until June or July. The |
| Rhubarb may be low-maintenance, but it does require | | | | leafstalks have maximum color, flavor, and tenderness |
| food and water. Make sure your rhubarb does not dry | | | | in early spring. |
| out during hot weather. As the years go by, your soil | | | | Rhubarb should not be heavily harvested until the third |
| may lose some of its water-holding capability, in which | | | | year after planting. However, a limited number of |
| case you should dig the rhubarb up in the spring, | | | | leafstalks may be pulled the second year. |
| amend the soil, divide, and re-transplant. | | | | Plants will produce flower stalks each season and |
| Food and Water, Please | | | | these should be cut as soon as they appear. |
| Each spring work one cup of 10-10-10 fertilizer into the | | | | Cut the leaves off the harvested stalks because they |
| soil around each plant, down to a depth of about six | | | | are toxic. Throw leaves in the compost pile and they |
| inches. Use a small spade or your fingers so you don't | | | | will lose their toxicity and become wonderful compost |
| disturb the roots. | | | | for your next transplants. |
| As with most perennials, a good watering right at first | | | | We recommend the Valentine variety because we've |
| frost will do wonders to preserve the roots through | | | | found it to be productive and delicious. There are |
| the winter. | | | | several varieties, so plant one of each and do a test |
| After first or second frost but before snow, clean the | | | | yourself about which one you like best. Now there's a |
| leftover leaves away from the plant. Top dress with | | | | yummy test! |
| well-rotted manure in a nice 3-inch layer. Extend the | | | | For another article on Transplanting and First Year's |
| top dressing in a circle approximately the diameter of | | | | Care of rhubarb, or to learn all about the fascinating |
| the full-grown summer crown. Add 6 inches of straw | | | | subject of compost, check my Author Profile. Thanks |
| mulch and let it rest through the winter. | | | | for stopping by! |
| Mulch is your friend! That said established rhubarb will | | | | |