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Some love him, others hate him. With the right processing, it is a really tasty vegetable. A lush harvest naturally requires an optimal supply of nutrients. Read here what you should fertilize rhubarb with
In a nutshell
- Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum) is a heavy feeder
- Permanent culture with high nutrient requirements
- Adequate and balanced supply of nutrients is the main component of care
- Fertilize regularly, ideally organically, for example with home remedies
Home remedies as fertilizer
Rhubarb prefers moist, humus and nutrient-rich soil and a constant supply of water and nutrients. The most important nutrients are nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, sulfur and trace elements. Which type of fertilizer you ultimately choose is up to you. In principle, however, one should prefer organic fertilizers and avoid chemicals as far as possible. Especially since even home remedies are very suitable as fertilizer, as the following examples show.
garden compost
- very good fertilizer also for rhubarb
- already apply at planting
- along with three handfuls of horn shavings
- incorporate into loosened soil
- about three liters of compost per square meter
- Mulch the root area immediately after planting
- with a thick layer of sifted compost
- for example from composted bark, leaf compost or grass clippings
Later, during growth from March to May, incorporate a thin layer of well-rotted garden compost into the soil weekly. After harvesting around the end of June, this plant needs to replenish its nutrient reserves. You can support them by spreading another layer of compost on the ground.
Tip: If you want to do it particularly well, plant the rhubarb near a compost heap.
horse manure
Horse manure is another home remedy that can be used to fertilize rhubarb. However, it should be well seasoned, ideally one year. Apply it around the plant as early as January and just work it shallow into the soil. This means that the nutrients are available when growth begins. An additional dose is usually not necessary, the fertilizing effect of horse manure lasts for a long time.
Tip: When composting horse manure, it is advisable to mix it with leaves or grass clippings and compost together. It should not be stored for longer than a year, because the nutrient content gradually decreases.
plant manure
Plant manure made from stinging nettles, horsetail or comfrey are reliable nitrogen suppliers for rhubarb. These home remedies are easy to make, effective and also ecological. In particular, they are essential for the regeneration of the plant after harvesting. They are generously distributed. If necessary, you can supplement the whole thing with a dose of compost. Subsequent fertilization in spring during the main growth phase is recommended.
Freshly prepared nettle manure
make manure
- 1 kg fresh or 150-250 g dried herb of your choice is required
- and ten liters of water, preferably rainwater
- Herb should not yet have flowers or seeds
- cut into small pieces and place in buckets
- Pour in water and add some rock flour
- Put the bucket in a sunny place for about two weeks
- Stir liquid daily, cover bucket
- Manure is ready when it no longer foams
- Dilute liquid manure 1:10 before fertilizing (1 kg herb to 10 liters of water)
wood ash
Wood ash is also one of the possible fertilizers in terms of home remedies. It provides lime, potassium, iron and phosphate, but no nitrogen, which would have to be supplied elsewhere.
- Wood ash must meet different requirements
- Plant ash from burned wood, straw or other plant materials
- only use ashes from untreated wood
- Ash from lignite or hard coal, briquettes unsuitable for fertilizing rhubarb
- as well as glossy printed paper or varnished, surface-treated and impregnated wood
Tip: You should also avoid common firelighters, such as normal newspaper, egg cartons or commercial firelighters. On the other hand, what you can use without hesitation are dry twigs, small split pieces of wood, sawdust, nut shells or firelighters made of wood wool.
application
- Test soil pH before fertilizing
- Ash has a strong basic effect
- Use primarily on loamy and clayey substrates
- maximum 30 g loose ash per square meter
- apply in autumn on a windless day
- or stir into the water
- then spread over the area to be fertilized
- Work the dry ash into the soil with a rake
- Enrich and fertilize in spring with horn shavings
Tip: Used correctly, wood ash is not only a good fertilizer, but can also stop the proliferation of fungal pathogens.
coffee grounds
Coffee grounds also contain important nutrients for rhubarb, such as sulfur and nitrogen. Before using it for fertilizing, it should be collected and dried in a dry and airy place. If there is a sufficient amount, you can spread a handful of it on the root area and then work it in flat.
Coffee grounds should only be used in small quantities, especially with this plant, as they slightly acidify the soil. But there is also the possibility of composting coffee grounds and using them indirectly as fertilizer. To do this, simply spread the wet set on the compost heap.
Tip: Coffee grounds also have the ability to attract earthworms and can also keep pests away.
Horn shavings, horn meal or horn semolina
Horn meal or horn shavings provide the rhubarb with nitrogen, as does liquid manure made from nettles. They strengthen the resistance of the rhubarb plants for a long time. As a rule, horn shavings are mixed with mature compost and then administered.
horn shavings
- A mixture of 100-150 g of the finer horn meal or horn semolina and three liters of compost is recommended
- Apply to soil and work in lightly
- Soil organisms like fungi and bacteria do the rest
- decompose horn meal or horn shavings
- release nitrogen
Notice: Incidentally, horn shavings have no effect on the pH value of the soil.
frequently asked Questions
Is it possible to over-fertilize with these fertilizers?As a rule, over-fertilization is not possible if used properly. Also burns of the roots are not to be expected.
Can Fertilizer Cause Yellow Leaves?Yellow leaves in summer are a completely natural process, because the rhubarb starts to grow in August and sprout again the following spring. However, if they occur during growth, horse manure, for example, can be responsible. If not stored long enough, it can cause root damage and yellow leaves as a result.
How often can you fertilize with wood ash?In general, not too much ash should be incorporated into the soil. We recommend intervals of four to six weeks between the individual fertilizer applications. In the case of wood ash, an overdose can certainly occur. To avoid this, you can mix them with soil, sand or rock flour before fertilizing.