Rhubarb - Victoria

Packed in Resealable Long Life Mylar
Moisture Proof Packets
10+ Year Survival Seed Viability

• Category: Vegetable
• Type: Rhubarb
• Variety: Victoria
• Family: Polygonaceae          
• Botanical Name: Rheum rhabarbarum
• Hardiness Zones: 3,4,5,6,7,8
• Growing Difficulty:  5        
• Soil PH:  5.5 to 6.5
• Fertilizer Requirements: None
• Soil Type: Rich, Moist, Well-Draining
• Germination (days): 14 to 21
• Soil Temp for Germination: 65-75°F
• Lighting Conditions: FULL SUN
• Days to Maturity:  2 – 3 years
• Planting Depth:  1/4”
• Distance Apart (in row):  36 - 48"
• Row Spacing: 36 - 48"

Sowing Instructions

(SEE STARTING INDOORS)

Starting Indoors

8-10 WEEKS BEFORE LAST FROST IN BIO-DEGRADABLE POTS

Growing Tips

In zones 8 and below, Rhubarb is considered a perennial plant.

Before planting Rhubarb seeds, make sure to soak them in water overnight.

Wait until the outdoor temperature averages 45°F during the day and no lower than 32°F at night to transplant seedlings. Plant seedlings 36-48” apart in rich, moist soil.

Do not use chemical fertilizers on Rhubarb plants within the first year of growth, as nitrates can kill your new rhubarb plants.

Culinary Uses

Anyone that has ever tasted Rhubarb before has likely had it with a side of sugar. All joking aside, the Rhubarb plant is tart and usually made into a pie filling that requires plenty of sugar to bring out the unique taste.

Harvesting Crops

Rhubarb is not a plant that should be harvested within its first year (although you may be tempted). You need to allow the plant to grow and develop through the first year. By the second year, you can selectively harvest the plants. Wait until the third year for the plants to develop a good root system that will survive a large harvest.

To harvest the rhubarb stalks, grab them close the base and grip them tightly while twisting and pulling. When you remove the entire stalk, it encourages a new stalk to grow rather than cutting it.

Remember that the rhubarb leaves are slightly poisonous and should not be consumed.

Harvesting Seed

Leave your best plants to fully mature for seed harvesting. Harvesting the outside stalks of the plant will not affect its ability to go to seed.

Allow the seed heads to form, leave them on the stalks to dry and turn brown. You should remove the seed heads before they shatter (their natural reseeding).

Remove the seeds from the seed head and spread evenly over a flat surface to dry for a couple of weeks. Once dried, store them properly for next planting season.