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If the rhubarb in the garden bed takes care and does not grow, then this can have various causes. The following article goes into this in more detail and explains what to do in such a case.

In a nutshell

  • various reasons for stunted rhubarb growth
  • Do not grow rhubarb in the same garden bed for more than seven years
  • Do not cut off the rhubarb leaves before winter
  • Give rhubarb shrubs enough space in the bed
  • Rhubarb plants grown from seeds they collect themselves often grow stunted because they are not of a single variety

Wrong care

Incorrect care can definitely be one of the reasons why the rhubarb plant takes care and does not grow properly. Giving too much fertilizer or water can also be to blame, which can be avoided with these measures:

  • Fertilize heavily from February to June
  • use compost rich in nutrients and humus
  • Work gently around the plants
  • Also distribute horn shavings
  • Mulch soil with grass clippings and leaves
  • water regularly
  • straight to the roots
  • never on the leaves
  • However, it is essential to avoid waterlogging
  • Create drainage when planting in the planting hole
It is essential to avoid care errors, e.g. due to incorrect nutrient supply (here horn shavings).

Tip: For drainage you need smaller stones or gravel. Place this on the bottom of the planting hole before you plant the rhubarb. You should therefore always dig the planting hole a little deeper than recommended.

Depleted bed

The garden bed on which the rhubarb grows is very important. Because here, too, the causes can lie that the plants do not grow. You should consider this when choosing the bed so that rhubarb doesn't worry:

  • when were plants first cultivated in beds
  • Rhubarb plants should change beds after seven years
  • otherwise it does not grow and takes care of itself
  • remove all plants
  • divide and multiply if necessary
  • create a new bed
  • can be used for the next seven years

mosaic disease

If the stems grow vigorously at the beginning and large leaves are formed, but over time a kind of necrosis appears, then it is the mosaic disease that can get the perennials:

Mosaic virus on rhubarb
  • yellow, green or brown necrosis on leaves
  • Combat not possible
  • prevent instead
  • only use virus-free plants
  • Eliminate aphids constantly
  • Inject liverwort extract from the trade

Too little space

A rhubarb plant needs a lot of space. If the plants are placed too densely from the start, they cannot really spread either underground or above ground. The result: the rhubarb takes care of it. It doesn't have to be:

  • Root ball can get very large
  • Roots should not interfere with each other
  • large leaves on all sides
  • these can also hinder each other
  • small plants wither in the shade of larger ones
  • therefore plan at least one square meter for each plant
Give your rhubarb plants enough space!

Tip: If the plants are too close together, rainwater on the leaves cannot drain off quickly enough and the rhubarb can become diseased.

Seeds are useless

If you let your rhubarb bloom in summer, you hope that the seeds can be harvested later in autumn. But sowing often fails:

  • Rhubarb no longer single variety
  • Rods grow stunted
  • stay thin and long
  • remove these rhubarb plants from the bed

Tip: If you want more rhubarb plants and want to propagate yours, the best way to do this is by dividing the roots.

Wrong cutting

If the stems have been removed for consumption in spring up to around June, the rest of the plant should be left to its own devices:

After harvesting, you should only cut the plant in an emergency.
  • do not remove any other leaves
  • retire themselves in the fall
  • This is where the rhubarb plant draws strength for the next year

Notice: If you remove everything above the ground from the rhubarb in summer or autumn, it will lack the strength to grow vigorously the next year and will only grow thin stalks.

Forget tapering by division

Rhubarb plants are perennial. However, as they age they become more and more depleted and the stems grow thin and the plant as a whole is ailing. However, this can be prevented with various measures:

  • do every fall
  • look for older plants in the bed
  • take with the root of the earth
  • Divide root with spade
  • Divide about two to three 500 gram pieces of root
  • Let the interface dry
  • can be planted elsewhere in the garden
  • here plant forms new roots
  • grows back healthy

Tip: By dividing a few older plants each fall, you can gradually switch from the old to the new bed.

frequently asked Questions

Why should I change my rhubarb bed after seven years at the latest?

Rhubarb plants are heavy feeders and therefore heavily deplete the soil on which they are planted. Also, the rotted roots on an old plant often prevent the new plant from thriving. We therefore recommend removing the perennial, hardy plants from the bed after seven years at the latest, dividing them and planting them out again in another bed.

How can I multiply the same variety?

As already explained, seeds from your own rhubarb plants in the garden are usually not suitable for growing new plants. These usually do not grow as a single variety right from the start and therefore wither quickly. However, by regularly dividing the roots, you can re-grow a cultivar plant that will yield as much as the first.

What else should I consider for healthy rhubarb growth?

If you create a new bed with very fresh rhubarb plants or replant divided plants, then you should wait to harvest. Here it is recommended not to harvest at all for the first two years, even if it is difficult. This is how the young rhubarb bush can initially draw a lot of strength, which will help it to grow vigorously from the third year. If you only share a few of your plants each year at different times, you can also harvest continuously.

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Category:

Vegetable garden