Harvesting your own rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarium) for making jams, jellies, and pies is among the most enjoyable aspects of having a perennial spring garden.
rhubarb is in season
From April to June, you can enjoy it much sooner than many other crops. However, if your rhubarb plant tends to bolt rapidly — which means starting to bloom and form seeds — you frequently end up with a smaller plant that has fewer edible stems.
You wouldn’t want your rhubarb plant to bloom.
Don’t worry if you see a flower stalk developing; simply remove it promptly. This will help the plant refocus its energy on producing more edible leaves instead of flowers.
While some causes of rhubarb bolting may be beyond your control, you can reduce flowering tendencies by selecting an appropriate variety, mitigating environmental stresses, and ensuring you regularly divide mature rhubarb plants.
Although various types of rhubarb may start bolting under suitable circumstances, certain strains are particularly prone to blooming rapidly. This includes heritage varieties such as ‘Victoria’ and ‘MacDonald.’ You might want to choose a different strain, like ‘Canada Red,’ known for having a lower tendency to produce flowers prematurely.
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Ensure Your Rhubarb Plant Remains Healthy and Free From Stress
Rhubarb plants tend to bolt particularly under stressful conditions such as high temperatures and drought. Although controlling ambient warmth might not always be feasible, ensuring consistent moisture levels in the soil and applying a layer of mulch can mitigate these effects. Additionally, subpar soil quality can also lead to rapid bolting due to stress on the plant. Since rhubarb flourishes best in nutrient-rich earth, consider enhancing your soil with amendments if tests indicate deficiencies; this will create more favorable growing conditions for your rhubarb.
Mature rhubarb plants tend to start producing flowers. To prevent this, you should divide your rhubarb plant every few years.
The most effective technique for splitting your rhubarb
The idea is to wait until the plant enters dormancy and then carefully dig up and separate the crown. Ensure that each newly created crown has at least one bud. Keep several buds intact on the original plant to allow for continued harvesting during the next growing period. Avoid collecting from the new divisions for at least a year or two after they have been established.
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