Growing rhubarb

Two days ago snow and hard freeze overnight, and now 70 degrees! I am growing rhubarb for the first time ever, and I see how the leaves grow but does it ever flower? I have a different type of stalk coming up. What do I do with this? Also- do I need to not cut it this first year – like asparagus?

And on the freezing weather — I have flowers in pots on my patio — if we are going to get a cold night, is it better to leave the pots dry or water them well during the day (in addition to covering the pots at night)? We had lows in the 50s two weeks ago and in the 20s this week. My plants are confused!
 
Love your column and the green chile is growing!

Natalie
Los Alamos, New Mexico

Sounds like you have weird weather too. The different type of stalk coming up out of your rhubarb is the flowering stalk. It’s got an oval, whitish, pointed “ball” at the end of a hollow stalk. Cut this off to provide more strength to the plant. Don’t harvest any this year but next year you can begin lightly harvesting stalks. Again, keep those flowering stalks cut off so the plant doesn’t figure it’s done and quit producing edible stalks. Once the plant reaches summer, let it produce flowers and seeds. (You can raise rhubarb from those seeds but it does take three to four years before you’ll begin getting a decent harvest.)

As to your patio plants, just keep them watered as needed; it really doesn’t affect chilling on cold nights. Just be sure they’re well covered or brought inside if the temps dip below 30 degrees. They can freeze even if covered, should it get cold enough and you can’t trust the weather forecast. Bad surprises happen.

Mmm green chile! — Jackie

Zone 3 apricots

I noticed you found zone 3 apricots. I planted apricots that were sold for my zone, but never get anything as they bloom too early and the weather gets them before they set fruit. What were your tree’s name?

Jim
Lolo, Montana

Our new apricots are Scout (a Manchurian selection with larger fruit) and Brookcot (from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada). Scout does bloom fairly early but Brookcot later on. You might try Adirondack Gold, sold by St. Lawrence Nurseries as this Manchurian selection blooms later in the spring and will often produce fruit in Zone 3. We now have three of them and harvested our first few apricots last summer. — Jackie

4 COMMENTS

  1. Belle,

    You don’t have to use any sugar to can rhubarb but it sure improves the taste! But canned any way, rhubarb should be processed for 15 minutes in a boiling water bath canner.

  2. I saw a rhubarb canning recipe on rhubarb-central.com that states 2 lbs rhubarb cover with half a cup sugar . When juices flow boil and when reduced can for 10 min water bath? think this is ok? lots less sugar than most recipes

  3. Jim, I have 3 apricot trees growing in a borderline zone 3-4 high wind climate and all produce fruit regularly. Rootstock is the key to fruit production – verify and be persistent about getting that question answered to be sure you have a high chill hour requirement Manchurian rootstock. Then research the specifics of the variety you are considering before you buy. Many trees are sold with assurances that they are OK in a particular area that don’t live past their first year or never produce fruit. Then choose or create a microclimate that will encourage late blooming and protect the blossoms. Apricot blossoms are especially sensitive to fluctuating temperatures. Apricot flowers differentiate in late summer and fall, and adequate water is crucial for good fruit bud development the next spring. Apricots are especially sensitive to water stress then and a factor in your fruit production issues could be water stress. Send your apricot trees into winter with the maximum amount of stored carbohydrates so they are as strong for spring blooming as possible. In difficult and challenging growing conditions even with the best rootstock your fruit success depends on studying your tree’s microclimate than then taking corrective action to provide the best possible conditions. If you live in a high wind, fluctuating spring temperature climate and are really determined to grow apricots, you can keep your trees pruned low and open centered and make a plastic pipe tent shelter for them with 20 foot long pieces of pipe, rebar, a sheet of lighter weight Agribon and some plastic or aluminum clamps to fit the pipe. The Agribon will last 3 or 4 springs. Or you can build a temporary hay bale shelter around your tree. You can’t control the weather, but you can pay attention to all the little details that combine to create the best growing conditions and the strongest blossoms and trees. You can have fruit, but you may have to put more time into it and think more than other growers. When your tree produces apricots be sure to thin them.

Comments are closed.