Gathering Rhubarb for a Sweet Spring Flavor Peak - Insights and Strategies for an Exquisite Rhubarb yield
Fresh Guide to Stalking the Rhubarb* Keeping It Real with Rhubarb* The Perfect Timing for Plucking Rhubarb* Avoiding Mistakes While You Pluck Rhubarb* Properly Storing Your Plucked Rhubarb
Growing Rhubarb in Your Backyard Garden gives you years of mouthwatering spring harvests along with a beautiful addition to your decor, similar to a hosta. Rhubarb, a member of the buckwheat family, is a perennial boasting massive leaves on stalks that range from a fiery red to a deep green.
These edible stalks, or petioles, are the segment you'll be after for baking those scrumptious spring treats like pies, sauces, and jams. Rhubarb is not only a gourmet choice for the vegetable garden but also adds a touch of elegance in the perennial border.
Despite the popularity of rhubarb as a prime ingredient in desserts, we must remember not to indulge in its ornamental leaves. They are high in harmful substances like oxalic acid that can be toxic to humans. So, understanding the correct approach to plucking rhubarb is vital, both for taste and safety.
Picking the wrong way can harm the plant and potentially introduce diseases. It's crucial to master the proper technique, ensuring you never harvest more than the plant can stand to lose. Let's dive into the right methods for plucking rhubarb and when to do it!
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Keeping It Real with Rhubarb
Originally cultivated 2000+ years ago in China and Russia as a medicinal plant, rhubarb's primary use shifted to culinary applications in Great Britain and the United States around the 18th century. The plant's underground portion consists of rhizomes that require a chilly duration near freezing for wintering care and to enter the growing phase. As new growth appears in the spring, buds sprout off the plant's crown, unfurling stalks and leaves that can grow up to 2.5-3 feet (76-91 cm) tall.
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While the vibrant leaves appeal to the eye, avoid munching on them. They contain oxalic acid and other toxic compounds. However, rhubarb supplies plenty of nutrients, including vitamins A and C, dietary fiber, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, phosphorus, and potassium.
The Perfect Timing for Plucking Rhubarb
Technically, rhubarb is ready all season, but peak flavor and overall health of the plant are best when harvested during specific times. Depending on your location, rhubarb season could start in March or April.
Rather than relying on color, observe the size of the stalks to determine if they're ready—when stalks measure roughly 10 inches (25 cm), it's about the perfect time to pluck. At this size, the plant is established and can endure plucking without any harm. If your rhubarb stalks are still thin and spindly, let them keep growing.
When plucking rhubarb, make sure not to take more than a third of the plant at a time. Excessive harvesting, especially in the early years, can stunt the plant's growth or even kill it altogether. As rhubarb is a perennial, it's essential to care for it properly to continue enjoying bountiful harvests for years to come.
Knowing when to pluck rhuber also means knowing when the season is over. The season usually lasts around eight to ten weeks, ending in June. Although you can continue plucking rhubarb until the first frost arrives, it's best to pluck sparingly to safeguard the plant.
Avoiding Mistakes While You Pluck Rhubarb
Say you've recently planted rhubarb—hold off on plucking it for two years. Allow those first years for the plant to establish its root system and crown. In the third year, you may pluck rhubarb for a month, but be gentle.
Properly Storing Your Plucked Rhubarb
Having plucked your rhubarb, wash or wipe the stalks clean with water before storing them. Keep your rhubarb harvest fresh for two to four weeks by storing it in a plastic bag in the fridge. Another option is to turn your harvest into rhubarb sauce and freeze it for later use.
Done! Now that you know the ins and outs of plucking rhubarb, you're ready to start savoring those sweet spring stalks!
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Our Happy HelpersAmy Grant, a gardening enthusiast for 30 years, with expertise in culinary gardening as a professional chef and caterer, puts her knowledge into words.
- Laura Walters Content Editor
- Heather Rhoades Founder of our platform
- In the world of food-and-drink, rhubarb is not just a gourmet choice for the vegetable garden but also adds an element of elegance to your home-and-garden décor.
- With proper plucking techniques and care, rhubarb can provide years of mouthwatering spring harvests, making it an ideal addition to your lifestyle and cooking repertoire.
