Rhubarb - tell me what you know about it

I have never grown rhubarb before. Hubby planted some and it's growing. I don't know when to harvest it, how to harvest it. Does it come back every year?

I just picked a bunch of strawberries this morning and I'm wondering about strawberry and rhubarb pie.

Thanks,

Deb

Here's what other members have to say about rhubarb in our PlantFiles: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1863/

Deb, please google the growing & harvesting culture for rhubarb....my understanding is not to harvest until the 3rd year, then twist and pull the shoot at the base of the plant...you can harm the plant by taking too much at the wrong time.....we have had two clumps for 4yrs now & this is the first year I'm harvesting because last year my husband sprayed for star thistle in our orchard where the rhubarb grows and the overspray almost killed the plant....this past fall we piled llama manure on the soil about 4 inches above the plants so when it rained or when snow melted it would run the manure tea down into the plant.....it came back fabulous this year, just big and bold so I did harvest 5 stalks from each plant....that is all I'm going to take.....now I've put compost around the base & have it mulched with straw & will leave it until fall when I"ll pull away the straw and put the llama poop on it again....good luck from a North Dakota born German raised on the pie plant!!!!! Deb

Hey Deb...

I'm growing rhubarb -- here in N. Texas...which is kinda unusual because of our heat. However, we do get some cold winters so maybe THAT's why I've had some luck with it. (??) It's been growing for about 3yrs(?) now. And 'yes' -- it does come back every year. I read the other post about waiting to harvest but I've harvested some stalks before now though. I just cut a few off, rinse, cut into small pieces and cook in a small saucepan with a little water, some sugar and strawberries, and add either vanilla extract or even strawberry extract.

I was surprised back in the fall when it sprouted what looked like a broccoli head to me. I had broccoli growing nearby and I thought the two had 'intermingled'. Ha! Someone on this forum explained that what I was looking at was the "seed stalk". They explained if I cut it off down at the base of the stalk that I would get a lot more stalks sprouting. BOY -- were they right. See the pictures.

Edited to add: The picture says 6mos -- but it was just 3mos after I cut the seed stalk.

[BTW -- how do you edit to update a photo on a post?]









This message was edited May 26, 2010 2:11 PM

This message was edited May 26, 2010 9:11 PM

Wow, that's a beauty....I did the same thing as you did: didn't know what the seed stalk was so let it grow until it was about 18 inches long, cut it off, but then lost the plant....it just died.....that one was in my garden....I have two more in the ground down in our orchard and they are doing great after the llama poop treat.....I love rhubarb, just love it.....

Hey Depsi....

How do you use / cook 'rhubarb' ..??... Just wondering if there's something different for me to try.

Jann

PS -- Sorry you lost your rhubarb plant....when I look at mine now I'm amazed that in just 3mos there's this huge difference.

I've made jam with it and it didn't set up so we used it as sauce, most of the time I make sauce....I've had to buy it for so long it's going to be good to use my own this year for pies....I'm making a pie this coming weekend for guests from CA that are spending the week with us....I've made a custard pie with it that we just loved but mostly it's just plain old rhubarb pie....

I "stew" the rhubarb with a little sugar and eat it everyday for lunch as long as it lasts. I'm glad to know about cutting off the seed stalks although it is too late for this year.

Thanks for the info.

I have a booboo on my hand, soo not to chatty.

Does it freeze well?

I've had rhubarb ever since I was a kid, I always remove the seed heads, and yes you just twist and pull, if it breaks off before you get down into the knub, go after the broken piece. Rhubarb freezes and cans well. Here's a recipe for Rhubarb Dump Cake that is fantastic!
1 yellow cake mix (mix as usual and pour in 13x9 pan)
1 cup cream
1 cup rhubarb
1 cup sugar
Mix cake as usual, pour in prepared pan, put in 1 cup rhubarb ( use more because I like it) directly on to the mixed cake, pour cream over that and then sprinkle the sugar over the whole thing. Bake as usual, usually about 45 minutes. Really moist delicious cake!

Thanks for sharing the recipe.

I'll try to make some for hubby if I come across some rhubarb around here.

Hey Irish....

I want to try your rhubarb cake recipe but have a question...

Is the "1 cup cream" ---> is that 1/2 & 1/2 or heavy whipping cream ..??..

Thanks...
Jann

Has anyone ever had problems with Termites eating the Rhubarb plants and if so how did you take care of the problem. I need help!!

Rhubarb can be frozen either raw (I cut it into 1" pieces) or cooked into a compote and then frozen for future use (mix in sugar and strawberries into the compote). There is a rhubarb recipe thread which might interest some of you - just found it the other day:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/48209/