Topic: Don't get mad, here's another question!

[micklynn]

::)
What are the best varieties to produce rhubarb for as long as possible through the year please?

Still reading loads on this site  ;D

[Mrs Ava]

Hiya Mick and Lynn, as noone had replied, I thought I would!  And my advice to you is.........I have no idea!  Sorry, I am useless!  My bubby was a gift (you know who you are!) but we are not sure of the variety, and noone on my site grows rhubarb!  Don't like it for goodness sakes!  Come on you lot, you all grow it, don't deny it.  What do you grow and when is it at its peak?   ;D

[teresa]

Hi Mick and Lynn
Well EJ says we all grow it and I do, I aquired mine from my old lottie and some more besides hee hee no idea which it is.
My neighbrough has what he calles Manchester rhubarb which is a tall thin stalk size of your thumb and no need to peel it cut and cook must talk nice to him.
Victoria is a variety think one is Albert  as it was very populer in victorian days cheep pudding.
The stalks cooked keeps you regular if you know what I mean, and the leaves ( now you did not hear it from me) Leaves chopped up and cooked in boiling water allowed to cool and bottle makes a very good insecterside.  I used a pint of water to boil and one measure to one of warm water sprayed on to red spider saved my angel trumpet.
Of course leaves cooked or not added to compost heap.
My manure has arrived this week so planting mine soon they have frosted so look great hows yours EJ.

[gavin]

Hi Micklynn - I grow the stuff I found on the plots.  Variety - hey, that's easy!  It's got red stalks (or sometimes green) and big leaves ------------ fat lot of b....y use I am!

But a couple of places yoou might look to get answers?
http://www.rhubarbinfo.com/
And the Harlow Carr RHS Garden near Harrogate (http://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/harlowcarr/) has the national rhubarb collection - so they might be able to tell you - pass on the news, please?

All best - Gavin

[micklynn]

thanks for the tips and info.
The rhubabrb info site is amazing.

[tim]

- as said - what a site!

My only teaching is that 'Champagne' is the best - but that comes from 40 years ago!! = Tim

  XX  Later - sorry - was thinking of flavour - not continuity. John, below, has said it all. A bit like asparagus?  XX

[john_miller]

Definitely a site that will answer any question about growing rhubarb. My first inclination, in direct response to the initial question, was to say that there is not one variety suited more to late production than any other. This site doesn't change my opinion. It is neccessary to cease harvesting annually in time for the plant to manufacture foods so that it can regrow well enough in subsequent seasons to allow more harvesting. This is more dependent upon the climate than the variety.
The site creator, who lives in Maryland, mentions that he ceases harvesting in late summer. This would allow the plants to keep growing, in my estimate, between another 30 and 60 days. I live about 500km North of him and even here we regularly get extended periods of 20+C days in October and 15+C days in November so his season would be even more conducive to continued growth.

[budgiebreeder]

I always thought that Rhubarb leaves were poisionous.If so always label  clearly and put any concoctions out of reach of children.

[teresa]

Hi BB
I second that it is poisonus and so are so many things we buy from the garden centers to kill bugs etc.
I use fabric conditioner bottles and a perment marker pen.
I would say use old pans and utencils not everyday ones keep special ones for gardening concotions.