Growing and caring for rhubarb in the open field, cultivation methods. We correctly collect rhubarb stalks Preparing rhubarb bushes for winter

In early October, you can start dividing rhubarb. Once a variety has grown in your garden from a branded seed bag, there is no point in re-collecting seeds from this plant for propagation. The offspring are very reluctant to repeat the varietal characteristics of the mother plant. And in the conditions of homesteading, reproduction is carried out by dividing the rhizomes.

The subtleties and timing of reproduction by dividing rhizomes

Rhubarb - perennial. And for dividing, they choose the bush that is at least 4 years old. They are taken to work as soon as they dig up the rhizomes from the garden. They are cut into several parts, with the condition that 2-3 growth buds are preserved on each division, as well as 1-2 roots. On average, about 7-8 parts weighing approximately 250 g should be obtained. They try to cut the planting material so that the cut area is as small as possible.

The prepared planting material is left in the fresh air for several hours. During this time, the slices should dry out. In the meantime, the area under the rhubarb needs to be dug up to a depth with a spade bayonet and using a rake to level the surface of the landing site.

Plot for rhubarb: how to choose?

To the delight of many gardeners, rhubarb is a very hardy crop. It withstands adverse weather conditions, it is not afraid of cold winters, and it can grow on almost any type of soil. Although it's good to know that rhubarb prefers loamy, not very acidic soils.

However, if you are counting on an enviable harvest of juicy petioles, it is worth placing rhubarb in fairly humus-rich beds with moderate soil moisture. In addition, it should be borne in mind that a higher yield can be harvested in an open sunny area, where there is enough heat and the earth warms up more quickly after winter.

Of course, in order to save space, rhubarb can be placed in the garden, in a lacy shade. tall trees. However, in this case, you need to be prepared for the fact that the harvest dates will move closer to summer. Whereas rosettes caressed by the sun bear fruit in May.

It is best to place rhubarb in a manure-fertilized area, as the plant draws micronutrients from the soil in large quantities. The perennial is especially partial to nitrogen. Therefore, the site for rhubarb is fertilized with manure based on the calculation of 70 kg per 1 sq. m. With a lack of organic matter, it can be replaced with compost, peat-mineral top dressing.

In addition, it is useful to add:
lime-ammonium nitrate - 0.4 kg;
superphosphate - 0.5 kg;
40% potassium salt - 0.3 kg.

Delenok planting technology

Planting holes are dug shallow - in such a way that the growth bud is hidden under a layer of earth at a depth of approximately 2 cm. But in the process of planting, the soil is pressed tightly against the delenka so that it sits firmly in the ground and does not jump out when the frost hits and the soil begins to freeze .

In regions where winter is in no hurry to leave with the advent of March, it is recommended to protect plantings in early spring with a film cover. Thanks to this trick, the crop will ripen much faster, and the number of petioles will be more than when grown in open field all year round.

The division of rhubarb rhizomes can be postponed until spring days. But early autumn planting has a more favorable effect on the development of the plant, because the planting material will already have time to take root before the arrival of low winter temperatures, and will soon begin to grow in spring.

When it was not possible to plant rhubarb rhizomes before the onset of stable negative temperatures, planting can be postponed to the spring months. But the rhizomes need to be buried or stored in a cool room. And the division is carried out immediately before landing.

Rhubarb is a useful plant brought to our region from Southeast Asia. This is a vitamin vegetable crop, which is widely used in cooking and is an excellent addition to the daily diet. Juicy young leaves and petioles of rhubarb with a sour-refreshing taste are a valuable source of vitamins, pectins and minerals. This is one of the first vegetables that appears on our tables in early spring. By eating rhubarb, you can solve the problem of seasonal vitamin deficiency, as well as improve the functioning of the digestive tract. Rhubarb is an unpretentious garden crop that can be easily grown on suburban area.

Rhubarb belongs to the genus herbaceous plants buckwheat family. This is a perennial with a powerful root system and a thick woody stem of a reddish hue. The stem is straight, hollow, 2 to 5 cm in diameter, its height reaches 1 meter, some plant species grow up to 2.5 meters in height. A large paniculate inflorescence up to 50 cm long is formed at the top of the stem. Rhubarb blooms in the second or third year after planting with white, greenish, less often pink, red flowers.

The basal leaves of rhubarb are large and whole, while the stem leaves are small. Leaves grow on dense petioles, reaching a length of 70 cm, a width of 3-4 cm. The color of the leaves is green or reddish hues. Juicy petioles have a high nutritional value, have a sour taste reminiscent of apple and lemon. They are used to make compotes, jelly, fillings for pies, jams, candied fruits. The fruit of rhubarb is trihedral nuts, the ripening time is July. Rhubarb has a short vegetative period and gives a high yield throughout the year.

In one place, the plant gives a good harvest from 10 to 12 years. Rhubarb is a frost-resistant plant that is not afraid of spring frosts and withstands sub-zero temperatures up to 10 degrees. But, young kidneys can develop normally only at 2-6 degrees below zero. The optimal temperature for the growth of rhubarb is - 16-20 degrees Celsius. The hot climate is unfavorable for the plant, as its delicate petioles coarsen and become fibrous, losing juiciness.

Rhubarb: varieties

More than 50 plant species are known, most varieties mainly grow in the homeland of rhubarb - in Asia. The most famous types of plants:

Altai rhubarb. Rhubarb growing in the highlands and rocky terrain of Siberia, Mongolia, China. Perennial, reaching a height of up to 1.2 meters. The stem is strong, powerful, hollow inside, 1-3 cm in diameter. Altai rhubarb has a powerful root system. The root of the plant is used in folk medicine for the treatment of psoriasis, stems for the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, anemia, tuberculosis.

Rhubarb palmate Tangut. The homeland of the species is the highlands of the south and west of China. People call it medicinal rhubarb. The stems of the plant reach a height of up to 2 meters, have a reddish tint, ribbed. The leaves are collected at the base in a basal rosette, petioles are long and fleshy. Used in folk medicine as a laxative and choleretic agent.

In our region, such popular varieties of rhubarb are grown as:

Victoria. An early high-yielding variety with excellent taste. The length of the petioles is up to 60 cm. The variety is characterized by abundant flowering, which, according to gardeners, is its only drawback.
Ogre-13. Productive, mid-season variety with large petioles, has excellent taste.
Moscow-42. Early variety, has a high yield.
Large petiolate. Disease and pest resistant early variety. Resistant to low temperatures, but demanding on the ground. Petioles are juicy and sweet.
Red early. An early variety with strong bright red petioles. It has excellent taste qualities.

How to grow rhubarb at their summer cottage

Rhubarb is an undemanding, frost-resistant perennial crop that can grow and produce a generous harvest in one place for 10 years. Therefore, the most important condition for the successful cultivation of garden crops is the choice of a place for planting.

Soil selection for planting rhubarb

Rhubarb is a shade-tolerant crop, it can grow in partial shade, but develops best in lighted areas. Young shoots especially need good lighting during the period active growth. The main requirement for the landing site is fertile soil with natural air exchange. The ideal soil for growing a plant is loamy soil saturated with organic fertilizers, without the presence of ground water. In poor soil, rhubarb leaves will be small. The soil in the garden should be loose, moist.

Preparing the garden for planting

Preparation of a place for planting a plant begins in the fall. The seat should be well dug up on a shovel bayonet, organic fertilizers should be applied to the soil: 2-3 buckets of manure, humus, peat per square meter of land. If the soil is acidic, slaked lime or dolomite flour should be added to it.

Re-treatment of the soil is carried out in early spring. The earth in the garden needs to be loosened with a pitchfork or rake mineral supplement, per square meter:

Urea - 30 g.
Superphosphate - 60 g.
Potassium chloride - 30 g.

Rhubarb: breeding

Rhubarb can be grown by seed or by dividing the rhizome.

Growing rhubarb from seed

Using the seed method of reproduction, it is worth remembering that harvesting (twisting the petioles) is carried out only in the second year of the plant's life. In the first year after planting, rhubarb actively builds up its vegetative mass, and premature twisting of the petioles will weaken the young bush. Reproduction by seeds occurs in several stages:

Seed preparation. Rhubarb seeds are soaked in damp gauze until they swell. It is necessary to periodically moisten the gauze with warm settled water and prevent the seeds from drying out. It will take several days for the seeds to swell (3-4 days). As soon as sprouts 1-2 mm long appear, they are dried - the seeds are ready for planting in containers in a greenhouse or greenhouse.

For sowing seeds, boxes with fertile, loose soil are prepared. In the ground, it is necessary to make grooves where rhubarb seeds are planted. Planting depth - 2-3 cm. Seed consumption during planting - 3-4 grams per meter of planting area. After deepening the seed into the soil, the earth is watered with warm settled water.
The first abundant shoots appear 4-5 days after sowing. As soon as a couple of strong leaves appear on the seedlings, the seedlings can be thinned out, leaving a distance of 20-25 cm between shoots so that the plant develops actively.
As the seedlings grow, they are watered, the soil is loosened, weeds are removed, organic and mineral fertilizers are applied.
By autumn, the height of young bushes reaches 25-30 cm, on which 4 developed leaves are formed.
Overwintered specimens in early spring are ready for transplanting to permanent place, in open ground.
The bushes are transplanted into shallow holes according to the 1 × 1 m scheme. When deepening a young plant, the apical bud should not be covered by more than 1–2 cm of soil. After transplanting, the plant must be watered.

Reproduction of rhubarb by dividing the bush

The easiest way to plant rhubarb is to use vegetative way reproduction, division of the bush. This method of reproduction is carried out in the autumn.

For reproduction, large adult plants with massive reddish petioles are chosen.
The bush must be dug up and with a sharp knife cut the rhizome into several parts. Each new plant should have 1-2 growth buds.
Delenki should be dried well in the sun, preventing them from rotting.
Prepared new plants are planted in holes measuring 60 × 60 × 60 cm. A layer of organic matter (compost or humus) must be laid on the bottom of the holes. Planted seedlings are compacted tightly, watered abundantly.
Needs regular watering young plant in a week.

Rhubarb: care features

Rhubarb is an unpretentious garden crop, rarely susceptible to disease and attack. harmful insects. Another feature of the plant is that weeds practically do not form around the bush. In order for the plant to please with a high yield of juicy, tasty and healthy petioles, it is necessary to regularly loosen the soil under the bush, ensure timely watering and top dressing.

Loosening and mulching rhubarb

Rhubarb grows well in loose soil. Young plants are especially in need of loosening the root zone, their roots need to be provided with an influx of oxygen for further rooting. After planting, you need to mulch the soil well, and during active growth, remove rare weeds in a timely manner.

watering rhubarb

Rhubarb is a moisture-loving crop and needs abundant timely watering. Insufficient soil moisture can lead to coarsening of the tender and succulent stems of the plant, they will become unsuitable for eating. Water the bushes 1-2 times a week (a bucket of water per 1 sq.m of soil). During the period of active growth, the water rate doubles. But, you should not allow an excess of moisture in the soil. In dry summers, rhubarb leaves are sprayed in the evening or morning hours, as they quickly lose moisture. In winter, rhubarb is not watered.

Rhubarb nutrition

Rhubarb needs to be fed only during the growing season, prefers organic fertilizers, such as cow dung, diluted with water. It is recommended to periodically replace manure with humus. 1-2 buckets of organic fertilizer are applied to the rows between the bushes. In early spring, it is advisable to apply mineral fertilizers.

Rhubarb pruning

To ensure high yields, it is necessary to timely remove the uterine stems of the plant, which weaken its growth. As soon as the rhubarb blooms, its flower shoots should be removed.
feeding time is early spring and late autumn.

How to harvest rhubarb seeds

If you want to collect the seeds yourself, you need to choose a separate rhubarb bush and wait for it to bloom. Inflorescences with browned seeds must be cut and tied in small sheaves for further maturation. After the seeds ripen, they are dried and stored in cloth bags. One plant can produce up to 100 grams of seeds.

Rhubarb: protection against diseases and pests

Rhubarb is a crop resistant to many diseases and pests. In very rare cases, attacks on the plant by pests such as:

Rhubarb weevil. Insect brown or gray color, 0.5 cm long. It feeds on the leaves of the plant. To combat it, the bushes are treated with a 40% phosphamide solution before flowering. After flowering, re-treatment with a chemical composition is carried out.

Cabbage and potato scoop. They look like caterpillars that feed on the rhizome and petioles of the plant. You can notice the cabbage scoop by twisted leaves, the plant slows down its growth, looks weak. If a pest is found, the damaged leaves are cut off. Particular attention should be paid to neighboring plants in the garden. Female cutworms can lay their eggs in burdock and thistle leaves.
Sorrel leaf beetle. A small pest that feeds on the hired part of the plant, eating holes in the leaves. Damaged leaves are removed.

Excess moisture in the soil can lead to the development of fungal diseases such as gray mold, powdery mildew. Possible infection with ramulariasis. A disease characterized by the appearance of small brown spots on the petioles of a plant. Over time, the spots become paler, and the leaves dry out. For treatment, I use spraying the bushes with Bordeaux liquid. The plant is not subject to treatment, infected specimens are removed and burned. To avoid possible problems in cultivation, it is not recommended to plant rhubarb bushes too densely.

When to Harvest Rhubarb

The first harvest of rhubarb in spring is already in late March or early April. Harvested only from the second year after planting a young plant. The first year of life, rhubarb is gaining strength. Rhubarb is ready to eat when its leaves are about 25-30 cm long and 1.5 cm in diameter. Mature petioles twist out at the base of the bush. Petioles can not be cut, so as not to damage the growing point of the plant. When collecting petioles, you need to leave a few leaves on the bush to avoid depletion of the root. You can harvest several times per season, 3-4 doses for 8-10 weeks until early August.

But the greatest value is rhubarb in early spring, it is a storehouse of vitamins and minerals. useful substances needed by our body after a long winter. In the spring, young rhubarb leaves are used to make cabbage soup, borscht, and cabbage rolls. Vitamin desserts are prepared from petioles of red-cut rhubarb: mousses, jelly, jam, candied fruits, as well as refreshing drinks (kissel, compote).

Green rhubarb stalks are an excellent base for soups, vegetable puree and stew. In the first 2-3 years, up to 2.5 juicy and nutritious petioles can be collected from one bush. The yield of an adult bush is up to 6 kg per season. Rhubarb stalks can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. They need to be tightly wrapped in cling film. If you want to prepare vitamin petioles for the winter, the stems should be washed well, dried, then placed in a vacuum film and stored in the freezer. After freezing, rhubarb does not lose its beneficial properties and taste.

Rhubarb is an unpretentious useful plant that is easy to grow in a summer cottage. Unforgettable taste and beneficial features Plants leave no one indifferent. Rhubarb has a high yield, which can be harvested several times per season. Having picked up and growing rhubarb varieties in the garden, petioles of different ripening dates, you can harvest all year round.

Rhubarb, photo

Rhubarb has long been grown in our gardens in the open ground. An interesting culture differs from others in its properties. For many gardeners, rhubarb is one of the most beloved crops.

And the point here is not only that they make delicious jam from it and use it in baking. It's just that rhubarb does not require special care and special conditions in the process of growing. It is quite frost-resistant and can withstand even small sub-zero temperatures. It also easily tolerates dry periods, and is not susceptible to any diseases, does not suffer from garden pests. As you can see, rhubarb is a very easy-to-grow crop for lazy gardeners :).

Although it is drought tolerant, rhubarb does not like heat and prefers cool weather. The best temperature for him in the summer is around 20 degrees. And at temperatures above 30 degrees, its growth and development stop. Therefore, if you live in places where it is hot in summer, it is better to plant rhubarb in semi-shady places and give it extra moisture on hot days.

Rhubarb is usually planted in early spring or fall.. Rhubarb grows well on almost soils. Of course, preference is given to fertilized and well-drained lands. Before planting, the site selected for rhubarb is best dug up with the addition of compost or rotted manure.

Rhubarb reproduces well by dividing the root. Only strong bushes aged 4-5 years should be divided. It is desirable to do this when the plant is at rest, that is, in the fall, after the end of the growing season, or in early spring before the plant's juices begin to move. It is necessary to carefully dig up the rhubarb root, then with a sharp knife or shovel divide the root into thirds or quarters. Make sure each part has both a root, a stem, and buds.

For planting, it is necessary to take varieties of rhubarb acclimatized to your conditions in order to avoid problems with survival.

When planting, rhubarb should be buried to the same depth as the parent plant. Dig a planting hole, add compost to it, and carefully cover the roots with earth. Do not forget to water and mulch the soil after the whole procedure.

The rhubarb bush grows well and can reach a height of more than a meter, so they should be planted at a distance of at least 70-80 centimeters from one another. After planting, rhubarb can grow well in one place for up to 15 years, then the bush must be divided again and new ones created.

You can grow rhubarb outdoors and from seed. In this case, it should be planted in the fall, around mid-September. Then in the spring it will give fresh shoots.

rhubarb harvest

For harvest, rhubarb is harvested from stems, or, as they are called, petioles, which are red. The degree of maturity and readiness for collection is determined by the achievement of the required size. When the petioles grow up to 35-45 centimeters long and two centimeters thick, they can be harvested. 3-4 petioles are usually taken from a bush (no more than 2/3 of the total), cutting them off at ground level. However, some gardeners prefer not to cut the petioles, but to pull them out of the root. At the same time, the shell remains in place, and the stem itself is stretched. The leaves of the plucked stem can be left right there under the plant as mulch.

Remaining rhubarb stems and leaves will continue to generate nutrients into plant roots for his further development. New petioles will grow throughout the summer until autumn. Cutting from one bush a large number of petioles, you can harvest several times. Don't forget the plant regularly.

Attention - in rhubarb, only petioles are used for food. Do not use leaves or roots. Some people eat rhubarb leaves, adding them to soups. It is better to take leaves for this. And the leaves and roots of rhubarb contain a very large amount of oxalic acid, which is toxic.

The flower stems of rhubarb look different than those that are eaten. To encourage the development of new edible stems, rhubarb should be cut off its flower stems, preventing the plant from proceeding to seed production.

After harvesting, rhubarb stalks must be protected from drying out. Wash them first. Then cut off the hard part that was closer to the root and the part closer to the leaves (about 5 cm). Some people like to eat fresh rhubarb. But raw fresh rhubarb is still too tart and sour. It is better to process it, make jam or jam.

Preparing rhubarb for winter lies in the soil around it. To do this, cover the ground with leaves, straw or compost with a layer of 5 centimeters. Mulch rotted over the winter will be a good help for spring growth. Rhubarb consumes quite a lot of nutrients from their soil, so such top dressing will only benefit him.

We hope that our simple tips help you grow rhubarb outdoors. Try it, you won't regret it.

In contact with

Many summer residents grow rhubarb on the site, but not many know what to do with it. Although the plant is used for cooking various dishes and cooking compotes. Freezing rhubarb stalks for the winter is easy. But in winter you can cook delicious pies from it.

Before freezing the stems, you need to choose them correctly:

Only elastic and juicy stems are suitable for freezing for the winter. Withered and dried out for freezing are not suitable.
Mature stalks need to be peeled, young ones should be left like that.
Stems should be free from insect damage and disease.

Both young parts of plants and mature ones are suitable for freezing. There is no fundamental difference.

How to prepare rhubarb for freezing?

For freezing, the stems are harvested at any time of the season. The main thing is that the parts of the plant are large and fully formed. Before freezing, mature stems are peeled. Young ones do not need to be peeled, they have a thin skin.

After that, the stalks are washed under running water and laid out on a towel. It is important that the blanks are completely dry from water. After the stems are dry, they are cut into squares. Further actions depend on the selected freezing method.

Ways to freeze rhubarb

You can harvest a plant for the winter at home different ways. With proper freezing, all the nutrients that this plant is so rich in are preserved.

Keep frozen blanks in the freezer for no more than two years. Although eating blanks is recommended in the first year. The longer the raw material will lie in the freezer, the less tasty it will be.

Freezing fresh rhubarb

Many people prefer to freeze the plant fresh. To do this, cut the stems at the root. They should be juicy and thick. The peel is peeled, and the stems themselves are then thoroughly washed in cool water. Then the parts of the plant are laid out on a towel or newspaper to dry the water.

When the parts of the plant become dry, they are cut into medium-sized squares. Put in plastic bags and put in the freezer. Before freezing, be sure to dry the stems so that during storage they do not accumulate excess liquid.

Freezing rhubarb with sugar

Another way to freeze is with the addition of sugar. The first step of freezing rhubarb with sugar is exactly the same as in the first recipe. Then the chopped stem must be mixed with granulated sugar. For 2 cups take half the same glass of sugar. Leave the rhubarb for a few hours to soak.

Spread the workpiece into containers or plastic bags. Put in the freezer so that the workpiece is completely frozen. After that, you need to get the workpiece and separate the pieces.

How to freeze blanched rhubarb?

You can freeze raw materials in blanched form. First you need to process the raw material and cut it into pieces. Then proceed as follows:

Pour water into a saucepan and put on fire. Wait until she boils.
Place part of the raw material in a colander and place in boiling water for 1 minute.
After that, immediately place the raw material in cold water for a few minutes.
Wait until all the liquid drains and spread the raw materials on a towel. Pieces must be dried.
Transfer raw materials into bags and place in the freezer.

Frozen blanched rhubarb tastes just like fresh frozen rhubarb.

Freezing Rhubarb Puree

Before freezing the puree, the stems are prepared in the same way as in the previous methods. Then, when the blanks are ready, they are placed in a blender and ground to a puree state. Sugar is added to the puree if desired. The finished puree is laid out in containers and put into the freezer.

Rhubarb is a common vegetable crop, especially among people in rural areas. Despite this, it is very rarely seen on the market. Therefore, freezing rhubarb for the winter must be taken care of in advance. Only petioles are used for food. The plant has a positive effect on the human body: stabilization of the intestines, improvement of blood circulation. AT pure form practically do not use. Used for making jelly, fillings, soups.

For harvesting, it is necessary to choose only fresh and young petioles. They contain a minimum of oxalic acid.

When it enters the body, it removes calcium and can cause the formation of kidney stones.

The stems age quickly, so it is important not to miss the moment of their freezing.

How to prepare rhubarb for freezing?

Stages of preparing a plant for subsequent freezing:

It is necessary to collect young and juicy leaves with petioles.
Young petioles do not require cleaning from the film. In mature, the top layer is removed.
After that, the stems must be washed in water and spread out in one layer on a towel.
If necessary, cut into pieces or freeze whole stems.
The crushed plant is frozen in special containers or zip bags.
It is convenient to use plastic cups from under baby food.

Ways to freeze rhubarb

Ways to properly prepare the product at home, to preserve the maximum of useful substances. Small plastic bottles are ideal for storage.

Freezing fresh rhubarb

Preparation steps:

Separate the petioles from the leaves. If they are ripe, remove the top film.
Rinse well under running water.
Spread out in a single layer on a terry towel and let dry completely.
Chop the stems with any convenient way. Also take into account what dishes will be prepared from it in the future.
Scatter the pieces in one layer on a dish or plank and place in a quick freeze chamber. This will allow the workpiece to be crumbly and not stick together in one lump.
After a day, distribute into packages or containers and send for further storage.

Freezing rhubarb with sugar

Cooking method:

Prepare the petioles: wash and remove the skin.
Cut into pieces and sprinkle with sugar. An approximate calculation is for 4 parts of the workpiece one part of sugar.
Place in a plastic container and freeze.
After some time, when the workpiece has not yet completely frozen, mix.
Send for long-term storage.

How to freeze blanched rhubarb?

This method involves preliminary immersion in boiling water.

Cooking method:

Rinse and clean the stalks. Cut into pieces.
To boil water.
Put a small amount of sticks in a colander and immerse for one minute in boiling water. After that, dip in cold water.
Dry on a towel.
Distribute into packages. Use a marker to write the date of freezing and send to the freezer.

Freezing Rhubarb Puree

For the preparation of mousses and jams, the plant must be frozen in the form of a puree.

Cooking method:

Peel the petioles, cut into pieces and place in a blender bowl.
Bring the consistency to a puree state.
Arrange in small plastic containers, cover with lids and send to the freezer.

How to defrost rhubarb properly?

The plant can be used immediately, without prior defrosting. Or put on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator and let it melt slowly. Can be left at room temperature.