RHUBARB AND ITS CULTURE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 49, 20 November 1937, Page 11

RHUBARB AND ITS CULTURE

Rhubarb is acclaimed as an all-round favourite in the vegetable garden, and few liome plots there are, jndeed, whieb do not boast a few plants of this palatable and health-giving dish. Too irequently, however, this willmg subject is ieft to eke out its own salvation. Being of a somewhat hardy disposition, it is oft-times denied the attention bestowed upon less valuable crops. Now it is very easy for anyone to keep pulling, rhubarb. wcek- in- and- wealc- %

out, but unless a little attention is occasionally bestowed u-pon it, the day will assuredly oome when you have the futur© of the crop to consider. When you pick rhubarb, you do nd.t relieve the plant of fruit which burdens and exhausts it, but you actually deprive it of the leaves which are the very life-workers of the plant. Therefore, you would be well advised to have a care for the plant by allowing a fair percentage of stems to mature after each successive picking. But this is not "all that i3 required to produce stout, juicy stems practically the whole year through. Rhubarb xs a gross feeder, and wilf readiiy assimulate any liquid mauures applied from time to tirne. Kitchen slops are exeellent, but splendid results may be obtained by applying regular weekly applications of liquid organic manure. During dry weather a muich of well-decomposed stable or cow manure is advised. Covering each plant with a petrol tin, with the top and bottom removed, is quite a commendable scheme, and certainly adds to the tenderness of the product. Don't forget to cut off all the seed heads that develop. The formation of the liower' and seed heads do more to exhaust the plants than even au extravagant -plucking of the stems. Remove them as fast as they appear. Allow each plant plenty of feeding. space. Three -feet apart is generally recjommended, but we would rather advis© four if space is available. ; Weeds, of course, must be kept down and the soil round the p/ants should be constantly - stirred, so as to encourage a clean healthy growth. A complete renewal of roots is advised every third. season. ' * There are many exeellent varieties on the market, among which Sydney Winter retains the pride of place. If 1 you - have not already made a planting,- you would he well advised to hurry on with' the operation now.