Got Rhubarb?

There are numerous varieties of rhubarb out there, though Victoria seems to be the most prevalent in my corner of the world.  Others I sometimes see include Mammoth, Macdonald, and Strawberry.  (Pardon the fuzzy leaf on this stem at left. With a "feels like" temperature of near freezing (34℉) I didn't bother taking more than one shot.)  Stalks can be more red or green, and varieties vary greatly in their tartness.  Rhubarb is happy when grown in the North as it requires a cold period to break dormancy.  Full sun will turn out the largest yield, but partial shade is generally tolerated by this plant; it also prefers a rich, well draining soil and a pH in the 6.0 - 6.5 range.

Like asparagus, this perennial is best obtained as a plant (rhizome) rather than grown from seed if you are looking to harvest it in it's first years of residence in your garden.  I have read to "pull" the stalks from the plant rather than cutting the stalk at the base in many sources, yet others still insist a harvest via the knife.   (I find this contradictory information annoying, but probably not harmful to any great extent.  I guess I will just have to wait and see what works for me, what methods do you all use for harvesting?)

Once harvested Rhubarb should be used quickly or frozen.  To temporarily store in the fridge first wrap the stem in a lightly moistened paper towel and seal in a plastic bag.  If there is any leaf fragment remaining on the stalk remove it before storing.  There are more culinary uses for rhubarb than I could possible mention, though my favorite last year was Strawberry-Rhubarb Crumble, the recipe can be found here at the Got Crumble?  post.  I find a generous pinch of cloves to be the deal maker in that crumble.  Yummm.  Here is a bit on the medicinal uses and folklore on Rhubarb:

From herbalist.com:

 Overview:

Rhubarb Root is an ancient and gentle, but extremely effective, laxative. It supports good colon health by cleansing it and treating constipation, and in smaller doses, its astringents have eased Diarrhea, Bleedingand Hemorrhoids. Rhubarb Root is considered a wonderful cleanser for the intestines, bowels, liver and blood, helping to rid the system of accumulated toxins. It is also an anti-microbial, antibacterial, and antibiotic and antiviral, and it may even help to improve your digestion.

 Medical Uses:

The tannins in Rhubarb Root produce astringent properties, and when taken in small doses, the tannin activity in Rhubarb supersedes the anthraquinone activity, thus leading to a lower water content of stool, and this action has been effective in relieving Diarrhea. Moreover, the pectin content in Rhubarb Root is also thought to work well with tannins as an anti-Diarrhea. As an effective astringent, Rhubarb Root has been used to alleviate Hemorrhoids, internal Bleeding and inflamed mucous membranes.

Rhubarb Root is considered an "alterative" or agent that helps to gradually and favorably alter the course of an ailment or condition. It helps to modify the process of nutrition and excretion and restore normal bodily function, acting to cleanse and stimulate the efficient removal of waste products from the system. As such, it not only cleanses the intestinal tract and blood, but it is also thought to cleanse the liver by encouraging bile flow. The herb is said to enhance gallbladder function and relieve both liver and gallbladder complaints by releasing an accumulation of toxins.

The bitter principle included in Rhubarb Root is said to stimulate good digestion and improves the appetite. It is considered a "stomachic" that relieves gastric disorders, improves the appetite and gives tone and strength to the stomach. Rhubarb Root is thought to be particularly effective in treating atonic dyspepsia, helping the digestive organs when in a condition of torpor and debility. In addition, the herb is also believed to encourage gastric flow, which also aids the digestive process.

Rhubarb Root is considered an anti-microbial that has been used to treat internal pinworms, threadworms and ringworms.

Treatments:

Rhubarb Root is thought to possess antibacterial, antibiotic and antiviral properties. In vitro studies, the anthraquinone in Rhubarb exhibited virucidal activity against HSV I, measles, polio and influenza virus; and the rhein component showed antibacterial activity against Bacteroides fragilis, but thus far, no conclusions have yet been published.

Rhubarb Root may be used externally to fight inflammation and infection (skin eruptions, boils and carbuncles, etc.) and to promote healing (wounds, Cold Sores and burns, etc.).

WHO KNEW?!?  ☻

I snuck the camera under the hoops this morning to see how all the garden babies are doing in their new home, all seem to be well!  I also peaked in on the sprouts in the Wintersown jug and per Rebecca's suggestion I checked the leaves out....basil.  Hmph.  I have yet to have any tomato other than Sungold seed from Johnny's germinate.  This is making me nervous, especially of the Wintersown SASE tomato seeds.  Those suckers had warm weather all last week and didn't budge.  Not good.

The cold rain has resumed, even the squirrels are soggy!  We didn't quite as far as I had hoped this weekend in the garden, but even still, progress was made.  Hubby made a 20' long raised bed for the blackberries, added another post to the grape trellis,  and a couple of my rhubarb went into the foundation plantings on the side of the house.....no clue where I am going to house the other three, though luckily they are not here yet so I still have time.

The majority of my seedlings (Kale, Onions, Hon Tsai Tai, Pack Choy, Chard, and Red Sails lettuce are out under the newly acquired hoops, boy have they made covering the bed easier!  During the last 2 warm days I have left the row cover on for a bit of shading from the sun as they transition, and at night and during cool days (like today) some plastic is added for heat retention and protection from the elements.

Future Blackberry patch on left, then extended grape trellis; I hate having the garden

 'half done' and a mess.

I took some soil temps yesterday evening, the raised beds were running about 60 degrees, the soil under the hoops was holding an extra 5 degrees of warmth, and the newly layered beds were reading eighty degrees.  Not nearly warm enough, I am hoping to see them heat up more than that before planting time, not sure how long it takes for all of these compost layers to "get cooking".  I also caved and ordered Leeks today, I have not managed to sow any of my seeds yet, and I am behind on my peppers as well which will take priority.  Half of them were sown this weekend along with the tomatoes.  The final tomato list is as follows, tough to narrow 40 varieties down to 20 or so plants......what is scary is that I only grew 2 of these varieties last year, I hope I am not in for a year of disappointments!

1. Mortgage Lifter
2. Moonglow
3. Amazon Chocolate
4. Green Zebra
5. Cherokee Chocolate
6. Black Krim
7. Sungold
8. New Yorker (DTM)
9. Rutgers (DTM)
10. Polbig (DTM)
11. Sibirskiy Skorospelyi (DTM)
12. Isis Candy
13. Black Cherry
14. Green Cherry
15. Bupree's Big Boy Hybrid
16. Pink Brandywine
17. Costoluto Genevese
18. Juliet
19. Principe Borghese
20. San Marzano
21. Amish Paste

(The cherry varieties were sown in the milk jugs, and most have failed to sprout so far despite the warm temps this past week.  I have either tomatoes or basil growing in one container, to soon tell which it is.  I emptied out the other container into a seedling flat in attempt to thin the soil and hope the seeds would germinate, but then I forgot about and left it out uncovered in the cold rain last night.  OOPS! Now I have surely done them in!)

Happy Gardening!