By Patpalmer
I planted a rhubarb in the spring and have just cut the first stems from it which I cooked with a little sugar. The result was a little tart (more sugar needed) but it was completely tasteless ...had no taste of rhubarb at all. What am I doing wrong?
7 Jul, 2015
Answers
If you only planted the crown this spring then you need to let the plant establish itself before you remove any of the stems. As SBG says let it be until next year and only harvest a maximum of 1/3rd of the stems next year. In 2017, so long as you add good organic matter around the crown, you can harvest more.
8 Jul, 2015
When rhubarb is too acid what I do is to add a pinch of bicarbonate of soda after cooking and stir it in gently. It froths up alarmingly but it kills the acid and means you don't have to use nearly as much sugar. Use a little until you get the idea - its easier to add a bit more than take some out! I've been doing this for years as my OH can't have refined sugar.
Agree with the others, pull (not cut!) no stems the first year and only two or three the second. Loads of rich mulch in winter. And if you tear up the leaves when you've pulled the stems you want you can spread them round other plants to repel slugs - tried it this year round lettuce and it worked.
8 Jul, 2015
Cheers everyone, I'm relieved that I haven't bought a rogue plant, and the problem is just my inexperience. I will pull the leaves off the compost heap, cut them up and put around my slug magnet plants. Thank you so much for your wisdom. ?
8 Jul, 2015
nothing yet. I find it is tastier in the spring. I'd leave it this year and harvest about 1/3 of the stems next year.
8 Jul, 2015