| Rhubarb is one of those interesting plants which you | | | | excessively. |
| do not generally chance upon a lot of information on. | | | | Since the newly established plants need abundant |
| You will certainly encounter difficulty locating it in your | | | | foliage to create a strong root system do not attempt |
| local supermarket. I would like to take you on a | | | | to harvest any plants during the first season. During the |
| gardening journey from growing your own rhubarb to | | | | second season you may harvest the stalks for one or |
| harvesting it and finally to creating some tasty Rhubarb | | | | two weeks, but after that you can safely harvest for |
| - Lime jelly. | | | | the full eight to ten weeks. |
| In most parts of America you would not encounter | | | | To harvest the plants pull the plants stalks and |
| any problems growing this perennial vegetable. It is well | | | | proceed to trim the leaf blades from each. Do not use |
| worth your efforts to cultivate it in the home garden as | | | | the leaf blades as they contain oxalic acid. Remove |
| it is readily enjoyed in jellies, pies and sauces. Rhubarb | | | | only 1/3rd of the leaves so the plant will remain healthy |
| is usually planted off by itself at the far end of your | | | | and continue to produce. |
| family garden and is best left alone. It will be productive | | | | Should your plant develop seed stalks and flowers |
| for at least five years. Six plants will produce sufficient | | | | quickly remove and discard them. The petioles or |
| rhubarb to satisfy a family of four with possibly a little | | | | leafstalks should be of high quality with bright color, |
| left over for the neighbor. | | | | tenderness and flavor. The stalk should be thick and |
| Plant your rhubarb in the early spring while your plant | | | | crisp when you break it off. |
| roots are still in their dormant stage. Use plants or | | | | The major pest for your new rhubarbs will be the |
| divisions as seeds are extremely difficult to grow in | | | | Rhubarb curculio which is a beetle which bores holes |
| most places other then the deep southern portion of | | | | into the stalks and roots of your plants. Should you |
| the United States. | | | | encounter badly infected plants with a vast number of |
| The crown bud of the plant should be about 2 inches | | | | beetle eggs simply burn them in July. And now for the |
| below the soil with 36 inches spacing between each | | | | fun part. You have already grown your rhubarb so |
| root planted. Rhubarb rows should be approximately 3 | | | | now let's make some tasty Rhubarb Lime Jelly. |
| feet apart. Make certain that draining is good in the | | | | You will need enough Rhubarb stalks to create five |
| area where you intend to plant the rhubarb as they do | | | | cups of juice |
| not like wet feet. Prior to planting your roots work the | | | | 2 1/2 cups sugar |
| soil well with compost to increase the rhubarbs | | | | 5 Tbsp of lime juice |
| production. | | | | 5 tsp of Pomona pectin |
| If you already have several rhubarb plants you can dig | | | | 5 tsp of calcium water |
| up the roots and divide them to make additional plants. | | | | Wash your rhubarb stalks well and cut them into small |
| Simply cut the root into four sections. Ensure that each | | | | chunks. Puree these chunks in a food processor using |
| of these sections has at least a single strong bud. This | | | | a cheesecloth for extracting your five cups of juice. |
| process should be accomplished at least every five | | | | Mix the rhubarb and lime juice with the calcium water |
| years to ensure healthy and vigorous plants. Plants | | | | in a pot. Mix the pectin with the sugar in a bowl. Bring |
| older then five years tend to become very crowded | | | | the mixture in the pot to a boil and then add the sugar |
| and their production decreases drastically. Use only | | | | pectin to it bringing it once again to a boil. Remove the |
| your healthiest plants for this spring thinning and discard | | | | pot from the heat and then ladle the mixture into |
| the rest. | | | | pre-sterilized jars making certain to leave a 1/4" head |
| Maintain the rhubarb area free of weeds inspecting it | | | | space. Process the jars in a boiling water bath for a |
| on a weekly basis. Apply fertilizer generously at the | | | | period of 10 minutes. Be certain to adjust your time |
| start of the growing season and continue to side dress | | | | according to your altitude. |
| the plants as the year rolls on. Irrigate the crop during | | | | Your family is certain to enjoy this treat. |
| periods of dryness and do not permit it to dry out | | | | |