Your comments and tips

08 Jul 16, Pam (Australia - temperate climate)

If your rhubarb is too tart add about 1/2 teaspoon of bi-carb soda to the cooking water. This takes away the tart taste. You may need more - it depends on the quantity you're cooking. This was a tip from my aunt in New Zealand. Her father grew amazing rhubarb.

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02 Sep 16, (Australia - temperate climate)

I always cook my rhubarb in lemonade, that way there is no need to add sugar and it isn't so tart.

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22 Jun 16, Alan (Australia - temperate climate)

My dad was a market gardener in England all his life. He told me they never "pulled" rhubarb after 1st June. The plant needed its leaves to build up root growth. This kept the plant healthy for next year. I suggest growing enough plants so you don't feel a need to "strip the plant bare" but only take a few stems from each plant. Here in southern Tasmania I plant to not harvest too late and will allow the plant to make full recovery before autumn sets in. Nutrients will then have time to drain back into roots before winter sets in.

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27 Oct 16, Tempest (Australia - temperate climate)

My mum taught me the same. She only had one rhubarb plant, so we'd only ever be able to use about half of the stalks available so we didn't deprive the rhubarb plant of its means to get energy to continue growing. Of course this meant less rhubarb crumble than we would have liked. When I left home, she kindly split her rhubarb crown into several pieces so we each have at least two. I also helped build her rhubarb collection by buying new crowns of different varieties for us both. I think I have about eight or nine just on my own now. Should be plenty to keep us in rhubarb crumble without taking too much energy away from each plant!

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14 Jun 16, Liz (Australia - temperate climate)

When is rhubarb available in the shops to buy in Melbourne. Which months of the year?

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17 Jun 16, Steve (Australia - temperate climate)

Liz, Don't waste your money. All the rhubarb I've seen on sale in Melbourne is rubbish and very expensive. I advise to grow your own, it's so easy to do, just plant in a shaded spot and keep well fed and watered. I'm splitting mine at the moment and I'll simply dig a hole, fill with compost and plant; how easy is that?

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14 Jun 16, Tempest (Australia - temperate climate)

Winter months - June, July, August. If you can't find them in your local Bunnings yet, try a reputable nursery. I've already bought some rhubarb crowns at the start of June from Bulleen Art & Garden who had three varieties on offer (Giant Victoria, Red Dragon and Ever Red).

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10 Jun 16, Don (Australia - temperate climate)

I have 3 small roots of rhubarb produced from dividing a larger one. They are growing well but something is eating the leaves. Looks like caterpillars but there are no signs of them or any other pests on the leaves. Some leaves have been eaten down to the stems. It could possibly be blackbirds. Any idea what it could be?

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26 Jun 16, Alison (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

It will be a possum....they seem to be able to tolerate toxins at this time of year. We never managed to deter them, just had to wait for the Ruhbarb leaves to become more toxic...then the possum moves on to your roses. Alison

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12 May 16, Jill (Australia - temperate climate)

You should be fine growing it in Qld. Its the cold it doesnt like.

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