Harvesting your Rhubarb
In general, you can start harvesting your rhubarb the second year after planting; that’s assuming you started with a division/crown/root. You’ll have to wait until the third year after planting …
rhubarb
Watering, Weeding, and Fertilizing your Rhubarb Plants
Once your rhubarb plants are settled in—whether it’s in a container, a raised bed, or open ground—consistency is key when it comes to watering. If you don’t get rain on …
Growing Rhubarb in Containers
Rhubarb is easy to grow in containers—if you have enough space for the leaves to spread out. You’ll need a sunny spot for it to sit in during the growing …
Planting Rhubarb in the Ground or in Raised Beds
Rhubarb is a cold-hardy perennial, and it likes to have some space to spread out—like 4 feet across. Your best planting strategy is to find a spot along the edge …
Sun and Soil Requirements for Growing Rhubarb
Rhubarb likes a full day of sun—preferably at least six hours of direct sunlight. It will do OK in partial shade, but unless you live in a zone where the …
Growing Rhubarb from Seeds or Crowns/Splits/Sets/Divisions
You can grow rhubarb from seeds, but only pursue this path is you are especially patient—and you get your seeds from a reputable source. …
Types of Rhubarb
Rhubarb varieties are loosely grouped as red, green, or speckled—a sort of pink. While the iconic rhubarb is a deep, bright red, for the most part, the color of the …
My Mother’s Garden
The third time my father tried to commit suicide was the summer my mother worked hardest on our garden. He was in a mental hospital, and it was a typical …
Hands of a Gardener
The woman ahead of me pushed on the door of the garden center to open it, her hand high on the glass pane. Before me, I saw long fingers and …
My Botanical Breakdown
Studies have shown that gardening is therapeutic. It boosts our bodies’ own mood-enhancing chemicals, serotonin and dopamine. I know I need all the therapy I can get, and when I’m …
