Should You Thin Out Rhubarb?

How to Divide Rhubarb. Rhubarb plants should be divided every 4 to 5 years to keep plants from crowding each other and to give them room to produce thick stalks. When stems stay thin during the growing season, it’s time to divide rhubarb.

How do you thin rhubarb plants?

Splitting your rhubarb plants isn’t rocket science. Simply dig around the root clump, 6 inches deep (15 cm.) and lift the whole plant from the ground. Divide the root ball into sections containing at least one bud and up to two to three buds with plenty of roots by cutting down through the crown between the buds.

Why are my rhubarb stalks so thick?

It’s possible that your rhubarb is one of the thinner-stalked varieties, as some types of rhubarb have thicker stalks than others. For example, Cherry Red, Riverside Giant (green variety), and Mammoth Red will all produce very thick, succulent stalks.

Why does my rhubarb have such skinny stalks?

Lack of Vigor
Poor soil and drought conditions can reduce a rhubarb plant’s overall health. Seeing thin rhubarb stalks on a mature, established plant that is not overcrowded can be a sign of declining growing conditions. The solution: In arid climates and during periods of drought, water rhubarb weekly.

How thick should rhubarb be?

The reward for your labor are the tart pink and green stalks of rhubarb. These can be harvested when they are thicker than a pencil, about 12”-18” long, by pulling them out and up from the plant.

What time of year do you split rhubarb?

spring
Early spring is the best time to divide rhubarb plants. Dig up plants as soon as the ground can be worked in spring. Divide each plant into sections with a large knife or spade. Each section should have at least 2 or 3 buds or shoots and a large section of the root system.

How do you increase rhubarb growth?

To boost growth, apply a general fertiliser in spring or summer. Every spring, apply a mulch of well-rotted garden compost in a layer about 7cm (2½in) deep around rhubarb plants, but take care not to bury the crown. Mulching helps to retain moisture in the soil.

Are thick rhubarb stalks OK to eat?

In the spring and summer, the thick stalks do not contain any oxalic acid. Harvesting rhubarb stalks during this time period is perfectly safe, as long as you cut off the leaves.

Can you eat large stalks of rhubarb?

Stalks Only Please
Only the stalks of rhubarb plants should be used. All leaves should be discarded. They contain large amounts of oxalic acid, which is mildly toxic and can cause gout.

Why you shouldn’t eat rhubarb?

The leaves of rhubarb do contain oxalic acid and soluble oxalates. Consumption of rhubarb leaves can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pains, and even death.

Can you eat skinny rhubarb stalks?

The stalks are the only edible part of the rhubarb plant. These have a rich, tart flavor when cooked. The leaves of the rhubarb plant are toxic. They contain an irritant called oxalic acid, so be sure that they are not ingested.

Should I let rhubarb flower?

Since rhubarb is grown for the stems, most gardeners choose to remove the flowers as soon as they appear so the plant can focus its energy on leaf growth. Rhubarb flowers can simply be cut from the plant as soon as you see them appear. If your rhubarb produces a flower, this does not affect the stems and leaves.

What is the best thing to feed rhubarb?

Rhubarb plants respond best when they are fertilized with 10-10-10 fertilizer or a combination of composted manure and phosphorus. While 10-10-10 fertilizer is a great choice, if you want to follow an all-natural gardening plan, the compost-and-phosphorus method is the organic choice for rhubarb.

How many years does a rhubarb plant live?

Rhubarb plants are generally hardy and long-lived, with some varieties growing for 20 years or longer.

Should you cut rhubarb or pull it out?

When stalks are sliced with a knife, the part left behind withers away… and that’s it. In contrast, twisting and pulling off the stalk allows it to separate from the bottom of the plant near the roots. This tells the plant to regrow a new stalk, giving you a more fruitful harvest and a healthier rhubarb plant.

What should not be planted near rhubarb?

For example, rhubarb, sunflowers, and thistles are all susceptible to curculios, a weevil that bores into cylindrical stalks to lay its eggs, and should not be planted near one another.

Is it too late to split rhubarb?

Autumn is a good time to divide rhubarb in climates with a mild, wet winter. If dividing in fall, wait until late enough in the season that the plant is entering dormancy and won’t try to produce new leaves, but not so late that the ground is too cold for the division to put down roots.

Is it too late to divide rhubarb?

Plan to divide the rhubarb in early spring or late fall.
Early spring makes it easier to see new growth, but it is more stressful for the plant. This means that the new divisions may have a harder time adjusting and taking root. Late fall makes it harder to see new growth, but it is easier on the plant.

How do you prepare rhubarb for winter?

Just keep any mulch away from the crown of the plant, which can encourage rot. To prepare your plant for winter, after the first hard frost, cut back any remaining stalks and dress with a light 2 inch layer of compost, leaves, or hay to protect the roots through the winter.

Why is my rhubarb so spindly?

Rhubarb is Thin Because Plants Are Too Young
Typically, rhubarb stalks tend to be quite thin in their first two years or growing seasons. Because of this, it’s best to avoid harvesting in this time, to give them adequate time to get established.

Do you cut back rhubarb for winter?

Prune back the rhubarb stalks to the ground in late fall or early winter after they begin to die back naturally from frost. Rhubarb may not die back completely if temperatures remain above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, but dead and damaged leaves can still be removed throughout winter, cutting them with shears or a knife.