Planting Rhubarb

We planted Rhubarb this past week and I could not be more excited about it.

The divisions will need this first year to get "settled" and we can start lightly harvesting next spring.

You will find that I am completely and utterly obsessed with Rhubarb.  There are two main reasons for this: 1. if you treat rhubarb right, it will thrive for 20 years and 2. Straight Rhubarb Pie is my favorite dessert of all time! 

I will admit that one time my mom baked a Rhubarb pie and I polished off the entire thing in one day - not my finest moment but I couldn't pull myself away!

When I worked at another farm for a summer, sadly most people had no idea what rhubarb was. Shocking! Multiple people said, "Oh look! Pink celery!"  It is a forgotten vegetable.  Yes, tomatoes are a fruit and rhubarb is a vegetable...a little mind boggling.

If you have interest in planting Rhubarb in your home garden here are a few things to think about:
1. Have divisions arrive late March (for NJ) to ensure that you can have the ground worked and ready for them.  They do not have a long storage time and if they become moldy you're in trouble.  If you need to store them keep them dry and cold.
2. Rhubarb loves organic matter so spread some compost prior to planting
3. The leaves of Rhubarb are poisonous.  Always be sure to remove all traces of leaves before cooking.

I'm often told, "Oh my grandma used to make things with Rhubarb but I'm not quite sure what to do with it."  Well I've got some inspiration for you....check out our Rhubarb board on Pinterest.

Rhubarb loves Organic Matter