It's that time of year again when I notice the glamour of the glorious red stalks emerging from the cold ground, adding some much needed colour and cheer on a day like today.
As we progress into spring and the early flowering plants such as crocus, snowdrops, hellebores (you get the idea) become more noticable I soon forget the glorious rhubarb stalks and another year passes.
After many years in the ground I now realize that it is time for me to give it some TLC. This year I am actually going to lift and divide it and place some near the pond (in the hope that it's huge leaves are a magnet for the frogs and a good photo opportunity!)
It's at this stage of the decision process that I realize I know nothing about rhubarb! Well that's not strictly true, as, I know it is very hardy and survives our extreme winters very well. The stalks are also edible as well as attractive. You can compost it too as the poisonous oxalic acid breaks down and causes no harm. It is very easy to grow and thrives in any soil type.
Our rhubarb however isn't in full sun, which is what is recommended by the experts, but it does thrive. Now that it needs to be divided I will have the added benefit of comparing that grown in full sun to the mother plant which is in part shade.
Looks like today I am going to have to bite the bullet, get those wellies on and get digging. I need to dig a large hole and put lots of organic matter in it - in my case I am going to used some well rotted donkey manure. I also have to make sure that there are no perennial weeds in the area where the new plant is going to go, not a two minute job but worth the effort. Then with the help of my trusty spade and fork I'm going to divide the mother plant and transplant it immediately. I have to say that I have chosen now to do it because of those red stalks catching my attention and also if I leave it much longer it will be too big for me to tackle! Here I go, wish me luck...
www.penstemonsandherbs.com
