Growing Our Own Rhubarb.
Rhubarb is something we enjoy eating, but the downside is that the plants do take up a lot of room on our plot. We like to grow enough to give some to family and friends, as it is so expensive to buy in the supermarkets. The plus side of growing rhubarb is it is easy and when it has leaves on and is in full growth it tends to block the light out from the bare soil around it, so not too many weeds grow on the rhubarb plot. If you plant it in lines, as we have you can easily hoe between the plants in the spring and summer if necessary to keep any weed growth in check.Moving rhubarb plants.
We have a couple of plants that we will be moving soon, foolishly I planted them too near to our path.
I did not guess just how much space the plants needed when they are growing at full throttle. It is an easy problem to solve, I will just dig them up soon and replant them in a more suitable location. Before I put the rhubarb into its new spot I will dig a hole larger than the size of the root and mix in some well rotted horse manure and compost. I will then mark where the plant is will a sturdy stake. All of our rhubarb plants have stakes to mark the position they are planted, as in the winter they sort of vanish and it is easy to dig around the area by mistake if their planting place is not marked in some way.
Later on, not yet though, you can force some of the established plants into producing early growth by the traditional forcing method. Do not feel you have to tuck the plants in with a straw mulch to protect them from the cold winter, as a cold spell of weather is said to be good for rhubarb plants.
If you do not have a rhubarb plant now is a good time to buy or order them.
