Growing Rhubarb Successfully

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29843, 8 June 1962, Page 8

Growing Rhubarb Successfully

Now is the time to plant your rhubarb crowns; half-a-dozen should suffice to meet the requirements of the average family. Although it will grow in in practically all soils it is responsive to favourable conditions. The most satisfactory crops are obtained from the heavier loams that have a high humus content. Good drainage is most essential. Deeply dig your proposed rhubarb bed, removing all perennial weeds such as docks and couch grass. Once your crop is established these weeds become increasingly more difficult to remove, take away nourishment from the rhubarb and give an unsightly appearance.

Work into ihe soil a liberal supply of matter or compost. The amount applied is unlikely to be overdone where strong growing crowns have been selected.

Where compost or similar material is unavailable compensate by forking in half-a-pound of blood and bone per square yard around the crown.

Good samples of rhubarb can be obtained from your crop providing that they are at least three years old. Clean all the surplus soil from the roots after lifting and cut them into sets or crowns with a knife or sharp spade. Each crown should have one or two good buds with well developed, fleshy rpots 'attached. All bruised and dead material should be trimmed off and burnt If disease is present discard completely to prevent further infection. Replant with a covering of two inches of soil over the top of the buds. Although it can be left undisturbed for up to ten years it is the accepted practise to lift and divide once every four years. After a while the crowns tend to become hollow and the stalks thinner.

whilst a profusion of buds weaken the whole plant Personal observation for these signs will indicate the correct time to attend to ones own plants.

Spacing in the plot is dependent on the size of the garden and variety grown. An allowance of two and a half to three feet between plants, and three feet between rows, if required, will give ample room for development.

Everyone likes rapid results but to gain the best from your rhubarb do not harvest any stalks in the first year. Providing good growth has been made light pickings can be made in the second season and regular gatherings can be made in successive seasons. During the growing season side dressings of sulphate of ammonia will be beneficial beginning after the first pulling at the rate of one ounce per square yard. A top dressing of dry fowlmanure. superphosphate and wood ashes, at’ four ounces of the mixture per square yard, should be applied during the dormant season. Don’t be dismayed if your plants throw up seed heads, this is a common occurence. They should be removed or the yield and vitality will be impaired. For varieties I would suggest one of the so-called “overbearing” ones such as “Crimson Winter Everbearing” or “Perpetual” which can be harvested during the late autumn through to early spring. There are also the so called “early crop” varieties, such as Royal Albert which are harvested in spring to early summer, and the “main crop” varieties such as giant Victoria, a predominantly summer cropper. Most of us do not have the space to grow all three types and would therefore find the everbearing as the most useful.