Growing Rhubarb
Organic Vegetable Gardening
Fact Sheet
Botanical name: Rheum rhabarbarum
Seed |
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| Planting time: | SP | ||
| Seeds per ounce: | 1700 | ||
| Ounces per square foot: | .03 per 100sqft | ||
| Minimum legal germination rate: | 75% | ||
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Notes 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. |
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Planting |
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| In garden spacing (inches): | 24 | ||
| In flat spacing (inches): | 1 | ||
| Planting depth (inches): | Cover seed with soil | ||
| Maximum number of plants per square foot: | .25 | ||
| Nutrient relationship:: | Heavy Feeder | ||
Harvest |
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| Days to maturity: | Seeds - 3yrs Roots - 1yrs |
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| Harvesting period (days): | During the Spring | ||
| Minimum yields in pounds /square foot: | Stalks .5 |
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Cultural |
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| 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 |
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| 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:
More Information on growing healthy rhubarb from Savor The Rhubarb. They also have amazing dishes using Rhubarb.
Return to Organic Gardening Vegetables from Growing Rhubarb
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