Rhubarb Victoria 100 mm

Rhubarb (Rheum officinale) Victoria

A long standing, green variety with a delicious sweet flavour. The large stalks of Rhubarb 'Victoria' are blushed crimson at the base, shading to green towards the leaf and they are not tough or stringy.

It can be grown in full sun or part shade, but avoid planting in heavy shade. Rhubarb plants are heavy feeders and beds should be prepared by working through liberal quantities of well-rotted compost/  manure.

Avoid light overhead watering, rhubarb is better off with less frequent but with deep watering. Liquid feed every 5-6 weeks with maxicrop seaweed fertiliser during the growing season. Older, more established plants require less water, but do not allow to dry out or the stems will never be juicy.

To pick stalks, hold the lower part and pull cleanly from the plant. Always pick outside stalks first and leave the young centre stalks to promote more growth. When picked, cut the leaves off the stalks as these are poisonous. Any flowering stems that appear should be cut off, so that the plant’s energy is diverted into producing more stalks.

Each year during winter, cultivate the soil around each plant and re-fertilise in preparation for spring growth. Rhubarb clumps should be lifted and divided every 4-5 years. This can be done during the winter months by cutting clumps into portions of one ‘strong’ crown and a substantial piece of root.