Victoria Rhubarb

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4.4
9 Reviews
Sku:
#RH101
Min. seed count:
25
$3.00
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Description

(Rheum rhabarbarum) This variety was offered in 1856. Thick stalks are popular for making delicious pies, cobblers, and preserves. Victoria Rhubarb can be harvested starting as soon as the second season. Rhubarb is very popular in Canada and the northern U.S., but can be grown in warmer areas with plenty of afternoon shade. Do not eat the leaves as they contain poisonous oxalic acid.

  • Ready to harvest second year
  • Full sun in cooler regions; afternoon shade in hotter areas
  • Sprouts in 7-21 days
  • Seed Depth: 1/2 to 1" deep
  • Plant Spacing: 4 feet
  • Frost Hardy: Perennial in zones 3-8

Growing Tips, Tricks and FAQs

Growing Tips

Rhubarb is perennial in zones 3-7 or 8, but it is more difficult to grow in warmer areas. Thrives in areas with very cold winters and cool summers, but can do well in warmer regions with some afternoon shade. Harvest only until midsummer and let the rest grow and die back for a stronger crop the next year.

When to Grow

Victoria rhubarb grown from seed should start to produce the second season. Start indoors 4-8 weeks before the last frost date, or direct seed in the garden 2-3 weeks before the last frost. Check out our blog post "Our Experts Answer Questions, Share Resources" to learn how to find first and last frost dates in your region.  Victoria rhubarb does best in areas with a prolonged cold period in the winter, but can be successful in warmer areas with care.

How to Sow and Plant

Soak seeds for an hour or two before planting.  Start indoors in trays 4-8 weeks before the last frost date, or direct seed about 4 feet apart in the garden 2-3 weeks before the last frost. Check out our blog post "Our Experts Answer Questions, Share Resources" to learn how to find first and last frost dates in your region.

Plant seeds 1/2 to 1 inch deep; seeds should germinate in 7-21 days. Transplant once the last danger of frost has passed. The plants get fairly large, so put them in the ground about 4 feet apart. Choose a site with rich, well-draining soil. Direct all-day sun is fine in areas with mild or cool summers, but the plants will appreciate some afternoon shade in hotter regions.

How to Grow

Keep soil consistently moist, but do not soak the soil. It's helpful to mulch with straw, but be careful not to mulch too close to the plants or the crowns will rot. You should be able to harvest the stalks the second year, in late spring through early summer. Supplement every year with a balanced fertilizer or rich compost. 

After a few years of growth, the plants will begin to crowd, and you'll want to dig them up and divide the plants.

How to Save

  • Rhubarb will send up flower stalks.
  • The flowers will yield papery seeds that you can pick as they dry on the plant.
  • Allow seeds to dry in a cool place, then store in an airtight container.
  • Rhubarb seeds will remain viable for 2 to 3 years.
  • You can also propagate the plants by digging them up and dividing them every few years.

FAQ

Can Victoria Rhubarb be grown in containers?
Yes, it will do well in large containers or raised beds filled with fertile, well-draining soil.

Will deer and/or rabbits eat my Victoria rhubarb?
Probably not, as rhubarb leaves are rich in oxalic acid, which is toxic to deer and rabbits. Humans should avoid eating the bitter leaves as well.

How do I cook rhubarb? Can it be eaten raw?
Rhubarb is usually used in sweet desserts, such as cobblers, pies, and crisps -- often in combination with strawberries and/or apples. It also makes excellent jams and chutneys. While rhubarb stalks can safely be eaten raw, it's very bitter and is usually sweetened and cooked before eating.

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Victoria Rhubarb
star-filled
4.4
Customer reviews (9)