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Growing Rhubarb

Botanical name:  Rheum rhabarbarum

Growing Rhubarb Organic Gardening Fact Sheet

Seed

 

Rhubarb

Rhubarb stalks

Planting time: SP
Seeds per ounce: 1700
Ounces per square foot: .03 per 100sqft
Minimum legal germination rate: 75%
Germination type:

Long Germination

 

Notes
Growing Rhubarb is a permanent situation. A cool season perennial, Rhubarb is very winter hardy. Rhubarb grows from crowns of rhizomes and buds. Following a season of growth the Rhubarb crown becomes dormant during winter. Bud development requires temperatures below 40°F.

Rhubarb shoots that appear in spring are edible. These emerge sequentially as long as temperatures remain below 90°F. Top growth is suppressed as temperatures increase and appearing dormant in periods of high heat.

While Rhubarb leaves do contain poisonous materials, they can be used in the compost pile.

Once planted, Rhubarb plantings remain productive for 8 to 15 years.

Caution: The leaves of rhubarb contain oxalic acid and soluble oxalates. Eating Rhubarb leaves can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pains, and even death. The concern expressed by some individuals is that the oxalic acid and soluble oxalates would move from the leaves to the stalks upon exposure to freezing temperatures. In fact, however, the movement of these compounds into the stalks is not a problem.

 

Planting

   
In garden spacing (inches): 24  
In flat spacing (inches): 1  
Planting depth (inches): Cover seed with soil
Maxiumum number of plants per square foot: .25
Nutrient relationship:: Heavy Feeder
   

Harvest

 

Days to maturity: Seeds - 3yrs
Roots - 1yrs
Harvesting period (days): During the Spring
Minimum yields in pounds /square foot: Stalks
.5
   
     

Cultural

Diseases: Botrytis Blight, Oedema, Powdery Mildew.
Insect pests:(Insect Pest Finder) European Corn Borer, Flea Beetle, Japanese Beetle, Rhubarb Curculio, Slugs and Snails, Yellow Woollybear
   

Varieties

Carleton Club, Canada Red, Chipman, Cherry Red, Crimson Red, Egyptian Queen, German Wine, Glaskin's Perpetual, Hawke's Champagne, Holstein Bloodred, Linnaeus, Macdonald, Mammoth Red, Mammoth Green, Monarch, Paragon, Prince Albert, Redstick, Riverside Giant, Ruby, St. Martin's, Strawberry, Sunrise, Sutton, Tilden, Tottle's Improved, Timperely Early, Valentine, Victoria

Organic Gardening Seed and Plant Sources
Organic Gardening Information Directory - Seeds
Organic Gardening Information Directory - Vegetable Plants & Roots

Shop at Gurneys.com for your vegetable and flower seeds!

See what Amazon has to offer in the way of Rhubarb seeds and roots

The best seeds and nursery stock available - shop HenryFields.com!

Return to Organic Gardening Vegetables from Growing Rhubarb

 


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