| Note: Rhubarb leaves are toxic, so never eat them. | | | | If you have root divisions with no leaves, follow these |
| The stalks are awesome, so eat them as much as | | | | directions: |
| possible. One cup of chopped rhubarb stalks contains | | | | |
| 13 percent of your daily value of vitamin C and a | | | | 1. Dig the hole at least 18 inches deep and 18 inches in |
| whopping 68 percent of your DV of vitamin K. It also | | | | diameter. |
| contains significant calcium, manganese and potassium. | | | | 2. Amend the soil as described above. |
| Rhubarb is just about the easiest fruit plant to grow. | | | | 3. Re-fill the hole with amended dirt to within six inches |
| Put it in the ground and forget about it for a generation | | | | of ground level. |
| - it still comes up every year and the tender spring | | | | 4. Water thoroughly to settle. Allow the water to drain |
| stalks make delicious desserts. | | | | away. |
| Here are just a couple of things you should know to | | | | 5. Place root divisions 4-6 inches below the soil level. |
| successfully grow this plant in your garden. | | | | 6. Cover with soil. |
| Transplanting and First Year's Care | | | | 7. Make a ring around the area where the division will |
| Plants should be located in an area of the garden | | | | come up, forming a cup shape. |
| where they will not be disturbed. Sunlight is important to | | | | 8. Sit back and wait for new leaves to appear! |
| this productive plant, so make sure it will get full | | | | If you have a greenhouse starter with a few leaves |
| morning sun and a little shade in the afternoon. | | | | growing already, follow the directions above up until |
| Rich, well-drained soil is a good new home. Clay or | | | | Step 5. Place the transplant in the hole. Heap the soil |
| sand should be amended with organic matter. Before | | | | around it so the top of the root crown is an inch below |
| planting, spade the soil to a depth of 12-16 inches and | | | | ground level and the leaves are sticking out. |
| mix in well-rotted manure or compost, a little peat | | | | Keep your new plant watered. Stalks may be |
| moss, and a little bone meal. For every two shovelfuls | | | | harvested for eating in the third year, so be a little |
| of dirt that comes out of the hole, mix in a shovel of | | | | patient. |
| organic matter. | | | | For another article on the Continuing Care and Harvest |
| Plants may be purchased or they may be obtained by | | | | of rhubarb, or to learn all about the fascinating subject |
| dividing established crowns of old plants in the spring. | | | | of compost, check my Author Profile. Thanks for |
| Transplant as early as possible so they have time to | | | | stopping by! |
| settle in before their long winter's nap. | | | | |