Rhubarb

If your grandmother had a garden, she probably had rhubarb growing off in a quiet corner. I don't have a whole lot to say about growing rhubarb because there really isn't much to it. Just buy a plant or three and stick them somewhere in reasonably decent soil, and they will come up year after year with little attention. The large leaves are attractive, and the red stems, although sour, are precious because they're one of the earliest things you'll harvest from your garden.

Rhubarb will grow in sun or light shade, and does appreciate a rich soil and a handful of fertilizer in the spring. For better yields, you should cut off any flower stems that appear, and lift and divide the plants after 5 or 6 years. But even if you don't do this, the plants will likely survive. One warning: eat only the stems and not the leaves, as the leaves are poisonous.

As to what to do with it once you have it, you can find a recipe for strawberry/rhubarb pie in any reasonably complete cookbook. But my favorite recipe for rhubarb is this one, which is as easy to make as the rhubarb is to grow:

Warm Rubarb Pudding

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk together 2 eggs, 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup flour, and 1 ts vanilla. Stir in 4 cups chopped rhubarb. Pour into a buttered 1 1/2 quart baking dish. Bake for 40 minutes and serve warm.

Comments

[jo]

I finally started mine last year and this year I have already cut enough for one pie! What my Mom and I have been wondering is how much must you leave ont he plant so that you won't damage it? I assume it needs some of the leaves present to survive and recharge for next year. Do you have any thoughts?

[Leslie Turek]

That's a good question. I tend to treat it like asparagus and go by the thickness of the stalks. When a rhubarb plant is really strong and vigorous it puts out thick stalks, and as it uses up its energy, the stalks get thinner. So I watch what I'm picking, and if here are no thick stalks left, then I try not to pick any more for the rest of the season.

[Vicky]

Why shouldn't I pick rubarb after july? I have heard this more than once.

[Leslie Turek]

I think there may be two reasons. After July the stems are a bit older, so they might be more woody in texture and not so juicy as when they first come up. Also, you want to let the plant have a rest and allow it to put out leaves that will develop the nutrients that it will store in the roots to allow it to get through the winter. If you keep cutting the stems, it will weaken the plant and it might not be able to come up again the following spring.

[Tamera Van Heukelom]

What nutrients are in rubarb, if any?

[tnacious]

Regarding the comment about using rhubarb after July.....there is actually no reason for this. I have used it after this time with no problem. If it has turned to seed you would not use it, but I have never had that problem.