Rhubarb will be full of ‘vigour’ if gardeners do two jobs in autumn
Most rhubarb varieties can be harvested from late April or May and will continue to flourish through the summer.
However, gardeners know that harvesting should cease in June, or only a few stems should be picked as “over-cropping will reduce the plant’s vigour”, according to Thomson and Morgan gardening experts.
Looking after rhubarb plants doesn’t stop there. As late October’s chill creeps across the UK, keen gardeners know it’s time to give their rhubarb plants some TLC before they settle in for winter.
The Thomson and Morgan team shared: “Rhubarb is an undemanding perennial that’s easy to grow and fantastically hardy. It actually needs a cold snap to produce the best crops.”
They urged rhubarb fans to call upon two common gardening tools this autumn to stimulate the most impressive crimson fruits.
Rhubarb leaves die in autumn and are usually the first garden crop to collapse, flop down, and turn black.
The gardening experts said: “When the leaves die back naturally, simply cut back the old rhubarb stalks to leave the buds exposed.”
This is the sweet spot for pruning, so it’s important not to delay it beyond autumn. After the leaves die, the plant will quickly go dormant.
Start by identifying the old, spent stalks – they’re generally easy to spot. Grab them at the base and twist gently to remove them, ensuring you don’t damage the crown. If they’re stubborn, use sharp, clean shears to make a clean cut at the base.
Flower stalks, which siphon off the plant’s energy, should be sliced at the base with a sterilized knife.
It’s important to prune only in dry weather, as doing so in wet conditions could expose the plant to diseases.
Once the rhubarb leaves have been pruned, the Thompson and Morgan experts recommend applying a mulch of well-rotted manure around the plant’s crown.
They said: “This will help conserve moisture in the soil, keep the weeds down, and feed the plants for the following growing season. But don’t cover the crown, as this may cause it to rot.”
According to Thomspon and Morgan’s gardening experts, crown rot can be a problem when growing rhubarb. “It’s caused by fungi or bacteria (either in the soil or water) and, once it spreads, the disease call kill the plant”, they warned.
In this case, the best thing to do is act quickly and cut away any affected areas of the plant. Gardeners shouldn’t be afraid to cut into healthy plant tissue – it could save the whole plant.
Slugs, snails and other garden critters feed on your tasty rhubarb, so always keep an eye on your plants and deal with any pests quickly.
