Rhubarb

[emeraldcowgirl]

My rhubarb plant never gets more than 2 feet tall. I have a friend who has a rhubarb plant that gets to be 4 feet tall with lovely thick stalks. She said she has no idea why, she never does anything to the soil. What can I do to encourage my plant to grow like hers? Thanks!

[Vickie44]

Maybe she has a different kind of Rubarb ? Add some compost ( well rotted manure ) and should be in well drained soil.~ Vickie

[buffalocreek]

Two foot is probably average. I like the smaller, tender stalks rather than the huge ones. Worry not.

[laughaha]

Either she has a different kind or she has better dirt. My dirt is awful, but 100' downhill is a gardeners paradise (for PA that is). Mulch with compost at least once a year and you should see improvement (if your dirt is the issue). I would mulch after the harvest.

[frankva]

I have a white variety that is smaller. One red that is partially shaded grows smaller.

You could try feeding it some fertilizer.

[Paquebot]

I have 3 varieties of rhubarb. There's a red one which really has to work to produce an 8" stalk. Then a green-red one that will go just over a foot. Original one that was here in 1963 is mostly green and will easily do 2' stalks.

Martin

[ChristieAcres]

My Rhubarb, on its 3rd year, from a split, is now 5 feet across and almost 4 feet tall. The Rhubarb is also delicious, too. There is plenty of red with the green in the stalks, have no idea what type, but told it was "heirloom" by the gal we bought this place from (I took the split from its parent here).