When does rhubarb ripen in NZ! Why does my plant stems never seem to turn pink!
-weasel-,
Feb 1, 7:40pm
lots of water and maybe prune it a bit - I always find they need a bit of sun. But I am no expert.
wombat69,
Feb 1, 7:47pm
Some rhubarb stay green stemmed. Just pick it when they are about a foot long. We left ours alone for 2 years to let it get really settled. We use pony poo as mulch and it seems to love it. When making a rhubarb flan I add a few drops of red food colouring.
punkinthefirst,
Feb 1, 7:49pm
Spring through to autumn. Possibly not a variety that has pink stems. They love lots of well rotted animal manure and plenty of water.
lemming2,
Feb 2, 6:10am
I have a feeling that somewhere I've seen that commercially it's grown in the dark to redden the stems . but even the greenish stems cook pink.
Mine never goes pink, its very robust tho, big stalks, and massive leaves, I give it a dose of blood and bone in late winter and away it goes, the green stuff doesn't seem as stringy as the red.maybe because the stalks are fatter.
clevercloggs,
Feb 2, 7:36am
Thanks everyone. I was thinking that it was a dud plant.
dibble35,
Feb 2, 8:11am
I've got the same one, really fast growing. I only planted it 6 months ago and already its grown so much that I've gotten I think 3 rhubarb crumblesand a lot of rhubarb and vanilla jam out of it, (3 plants). Mine doesnt go pink when cooked so it doesnt look as nice but its got a really good flavour to it. I must say the jam looks almost unappealing but it tastes gorgous.
jesse1238,
Feb 2, 7:08pm
what causes the leaves to go yellow gets plenty of water and cow poo!
harrislucinda,
Feb 2, 8:25pm
dieingoffasmineisnow
nauru,
Feb 2, 9:22pm
I add raspberries to mine, it's a lovely combination and great just as is with yoghurt for breakfast.
gag5,
Feb 2, 10:37pm
have just made first batch of rhubarb champagne - tried ti use as much red as possible but the stems are quite green at the moment- still turned a lovely pink colour tho - roll on 3 weeks for the first tasting!
macandrosie,
Feb 3, 7:23am
I can't remember where I got my plant from but it is a prolific producer of large red stems. It is a long season producer as well. You need to keep the water up to them & yes they are gross feeders, like rich soil. Where do you live!
wombat69,
Feb 3, 11:00am
Will try that combination, love raspberries as much as I do rhubarb. I put stewed rhubarb on my porridge.
annies3,
Feb 3, 12:18pm
Old leaves,they need regular picking, food and water mine produces all year round, even down here.
aloha3,
Feb 3, 6:06pm
Cow poo is fill of nitrogen so does that mean the leaves are extremely large andthe light doesnt get on the stems! Maybe you need to try compost or other type of fertiliser. Just a thought.
32oscar,
Feb 23, 10:02am
I have one plant (well actually it is now probably 8-10 plants as it has multiplied) that is in all day sun and I get lots of thin red stalks.My other plants have thick green stalks on them and they are in half sun/half shade.All looking huge at the moment - this weeks job is to make rhubarb chutney. yum yum.
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