Rhubarb is growing profusely in my little garden patch and I`ve baked that first pie of the season. I harvested just enough for one pie on the first pick and already it is time to harvest again. I am always careful to push a little extra mulch over the new shoots coming up when I harvest and as this spring was particularly dry earlier on, I watered every couple days as well.

Covering the rhubarb ‘petioles’ as they appear above the ground is said to keep the edible stalks more tender and so for the last two years I have done this. I can`t say that I`ve noticed a real difference but then again, I love rhubarb, tender or not.

Rhubarb is a cool weather perennial that has a history dating back as far back as Ancient China. Although rhubarb or ‘rheum’ is also native to other parts of the world, ie Siberia, Mongolia and Tibet, the Chinese claim to have the true rhubarb, that being the one that possesses special medicinal elements.

All this history aside, rhubarb is an excellent plant for gardens in Canada and Northern United States. Contrary to popular thought rhubarb is actually a vegetable not a fruit.

Rhubarb requires a stretch of temperatures below 5 degrees Celsius followed by temperatures that average less than about 22 degrees Celsius to bring it out of its dormant stage and into spring growth. When spring arrives the rhubarb `crown` sends up the shoots or petioles and very large leaves. The stalks or petioles are edible but the leaves are very toxic. When the stalks have reached a suitable height and width it is time to harvest by simply reaching down to the base of a stalk and pulling up and outward. The stalk will pull away from the crown cleanly, leaving room for another petiole to sprout up. When harvesting do not cut the stalks away from the crown and do not remove more than about one third of the stalks at one time. Within a week or two your rhubarb plant will be ready to harvest again as young stalks mature and new ones are formed.

As the warmer summer weather comes rhubarb will begin to look rather withered. If your temperatures are cooler it may continue to grow but I have found that as the summer wears on the stalks begin to get thin and hollow. As the fall temperatures approach you will notice your rhubarb plant drooping with the leaves and stalks yellowing and laying on the ground. At this point you can remove all the stalks and their leaves, cover the area with a blanket of leaf mulch or compost and put your plant to sleep for the winter.

For great recipes to enjoy your rhubarb see our urban recipes.