For a rich rhubarb harvest, the perennial needs enough nutrients. Here you can find out when, how and with what the best way to fertilize rhubarb.
It's such a thing with the rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum). Some love him, others hate him. With the right processing, however, wonderful desserts, compotes and juices can be conjured up from the sour vegetables, which can convince even the strongest opponents. The petioles of the plant, which can be harvested from April to June, are used. Planted in your own garden, the rhubarb is relatively easy to care for. In order to benefit from a rich harvest, however, the plant must be sufficiently supplied with water and nutrients. With fertilization at the right time, you can optimally support your rhubarb in its development.
Rhubarb has a relatively high nutrient requirement compared to other vegetables. In this article, we explain how and with what you can best fertilize your rhubarb.
When to fertilize rhubarb?
Rhubarb grows best in a sunny or partially shaded spot with deep, nutrient-rich soil. Due to its size, rhubarb should only be planted at a sufficient distance (about 1 to 1.5 meters) from other plants. This means that there is no competition for light, water and nutrients. When planting rhubarb in your garden for the first time, it is a good idea to deeply dig up the soil at the chosen location and incorporate some compost and horn shavings. After that, you should let the soil sit for about a week before planting. To make it easier for the new plant to get started, you can also add some fertilizer to the planting hole. It is best to use a fertilizer with organic long-term effects in organic quality, such as our Plantura organic tomato fertilizer. This protects plants, soil and animals in the garden.
To further support the growth of the plant, you can annually in the spring (from March) rotted compostor incorporate deposited manure into the soil. However, you should be extremely careful not to damage the flat roots of the rhubarb. For mature perennials, it is best to apply a layer of compost or manure to the surface of the soil. This is gradually decomposed and provides your plant with sufficient nutrients. Plant manure that you have prepared yourself is also ideal for fertilizing your rhubarb. These can be easily administered in diluted form via the irrigation water. After the harvest, the plant needs time to regenerate and gather strength for the coming year. At the end of June, a final application of compost or fertilization with deposited stable manure should therefore be carried out. In the long term, you should treat your rhubarb to a new location after seven years at the latest, which has previously been enriched with new compost.
Summary: When to Fertilize Rhubarb?
- Loosen the soil before planting and work in compost
- Put some fertilizer in the planting hole
- Fertilize annually in spring with rotted compost, manure or plant manure
- Be careful with mature plants to avoid damaging roots
- Last application of compost after harvest at the end of June
- Replant after seven years at the latest
How and with what to fertilize rhubarb?
There are numerous ways to get the right amount of nutrients in your rhubarb. Below we present some advantages and disadvantages of the individual fertilizing methods. In addition, we explain in a step-by-step guide how best to proceed with the organic fertilization of rhubarb.
Fertilize rhubarb organically
It is of course up to the gardener to decide which fertilizer to use. However, from both a scientific and a sustainability point of view, there are many advantages to using a long-acting organic fertilizer:
- Long-term nutrient supply for your rhubarb through slow decomposition of the fertilizer by microorganisms from the soil
- Promotion of soil life and sustainable improvement of soil structure
- Particularly gentle on people, animals and the environment by not using synthetic production processes
Our Plantura organic tomato fertilizer, which consists mainly of animal-free organic ingredients, meets all these criteriaand also provides your rhubarb with a sufficient amount of potassium, which ensures a balanced water balance in the plant and supports the plant in its growth. To ensure that you fertilize your rhubarb properly and that there is no excess of nutrients, we have prepared detailed instructions for you below.
Organic Long-Term Fertilization: Instructions & Dosage Amounts for Rhubarb
- Spring: Lightly work 60 - 110 g/m² (5 - 9 tablespoons) of our Plantura Organic Tomato Fertilizer into the top soil layers.
- Water well so that the granulate can loosen.
- After harvest, spread some mature compost or rotted manure over the root area.
Rhubarb fertilize with minerals: Blaukorn & Co.
Mineral fertilisers, such as blue grain, are still popular in domestic gardens as a universal remedy. Artificial fertilizers are easily soluble and the nutrients can then be directly absorbed by the plants. However, this short nutrient boost is not sufficient in the long run for the heavy-consuming rhubarb. In addition, if used improperly, there is an increased risk of over-fertilization and leaching into the groundwater if there are too many dissolved nutrient s alts in the soil. Organic fertilizers, on the other hand, don't work as quickly, but they are much gentler on the environment.
Fertilize rhubarb with home remedies
If you want to use natural fertilizers in your garden, there are also different options. Mature garden compost, for example, is ideal for supplying your rhubarb with nutrients. When planting and every spring, work about three liters of compost per square meter and an additional three handfuls of horn shavings flat into the soil. We also recommend covering the surface of the soil with composted bark, grass clippings or leaf compost to protect the plant from drying out. In addition, the mulch layer is slowly broken down by soil organisms over time, providing additional nutrients for your rhubarb.
Of course, after the harvest (June/July), the reserves of your rhubarb must be replenished. It is best to put another layer of compost or horse manure on the ground. Resourceful gardeners plant rhubarb right next to the compost heap anyway, to save themselves long trips with the wheelbarrow or buckets. But alsoSelf-made manure from nettles (Urtica), comfrey (Symphytum) or horsetail (Equisetum arvense) can be used as reliable nitrogen suppliers for your rhubarb. Before administration, however, you should dilute it with water in a ratio of 1:10.
If you've always wanted to grow rhubarb yourself and don't know the best way to approach this project, here is a list of ten helpful tips for growing rhubarb.