Rhubarb is a perennial herb that belongs to the Buckwheat family and is a valuable food product. It comes from China, Manchuria; In the wild species grows in the Altai, the Far East and Siberia. Recently, rhubarb is becoming more popular and grown by many growers. It can be easily recognized by powerful branching rhizomes, straight, thick stems with a hollow structure, and large basal long-petiolate leaves with a dentate or palchate-lobate shape. The above-ground shoot, as a rule, ends with a paniculate inflorescence. This culture blossoms with white, pinkish, greenish or (rarely enough) red flowers. Later, the plant forms fruits that look like trihedral nuts. In this article, we will tell you how to grow rhubarb in your summer cottage. Using our advice, you can get a rich harvest and use the stems of this perennial which are valuable and rich in microelements and vitamins in the preparation of a wide variety of dishes: jams, compotes, jams, soups, etc. This plant contains a huge amount of organic acids (malic, oxalic, etc.), vitamins (P, C), potassium salts. Since ancient times it has been used for medicinal purposes to reduce gas production and increase intestinal motility.
Rhubarb: planting and care. Peculiarities of growing
This perennial grows well on clayey and loamy soils. Normally tolerates increased acidity, but still prefer the interval 5.5-7 pH. For good growth the plant needs a deep arable layer. It develops poorly and fructifies in wetlands, in places with high standing of groundwater. Before planting the rhubarb (from autumn) the site is prepared: add organic matter (up to 10 kg / m²), lime (500 g / m²), superphosphate and potassium fertilizers (up to 30 g / m²). In spring it is necessary to add nitrogen fertilizing (up to 20 g / m²), and when directly placed in each pit, humus or compost is placed.
Rhubarb: planting and care. Reproduction
On one site this plant can grow normally about 15 years, but it is desirable to carry out its transplantation at least once in a decade. Propagate this perennial in two ways: by seed and dividing the rhizome. The latter is the easiest and most convenient method of cultivation. The plant rhubarb is divided in autumn, for this purpose choose the most powerful, well-developed bushes. They are cut with a pruner or shovel into several parts (up to 4) in such a way that each fragment has 2 large kidneys and healthy roots. Sections are treated with charcoal. Fragments are dried and planted on new, pre-prepared areas. Seeds are sown either in late autumn or in spring. They are placed in the ground to a depth of about 3 cm. Rhubarb shoots appear on average after 17 days, after which they are thinned in such a way that the distance between the seedlings is 20 cm, and produce a pick. In two years the bushes can be transplanted to a permanent place. A plant with a clod of earth on a rhizome is transferred to a planting pit, the depth of which should be of the order of 50 cm. The soil is compacted, watered and mulched with peat (humus). Between the bushes stand a distance of 80 cm.
Rhubarb. Planting and care for a delicious perennial
Care of this plant is the periodic removal of weeds, abundant watering (especially on hot, hot days), loosening of the soil around the bush and between the rows and applying fertilizers. Long and tasty rhubarb stalks can be obtained only properly and timely by watering it. For a season bushes humidify 4 times, using about 40 l / m². Abundant watering makes the petioles more tasty and less acidic. Also, to increase the yield, the inflorescence should be systematically removed. When collecting petioles, they should not be cut off, but pulled carefully. The first roots can be collected when they reach about 30 cm, the next - 60 cm. As for feeding, in the first year after planting they use organic (mullein, chicken droppings), and mineral fertilizers (Nitrofoska, Kemira-wagon "). They are made after repeated thinning, every 12 days in turn. In the following years the rhubarb is fertilized 3 times per season. In the beginning of spring superphosphate (20 g / m²), ammonium sulfate (10 g) and potassium (10 g) are added. 4 weeks after the first feeding, superphosphate is applied (20 g per 10 l). In August, a third procedure is performed (potash and phosphate fertilizers). For the winter it is necessary to cover the fallen leaves with rhubarb. Planting and caring for the plant must be properly implemented and be timely, then the plant will give a long harvest of petioles for many years.