perennial > RHUBARB > OVERWINTERING

IN THIS GUIDE

RHUBARB GUIDES

big green leaves growing from red and purple stems from a rhubarb plant growing in front of a wooden fence outside

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Rhubarb is an promiscuous - to - care - for repeated vegetable that is wide grown here in the UK for its delectable and colorful stems .

It has a hardiness evaluation of H5 , which indicates that it is a hardy plant and can withstand a rough wintertime and temperatures down to as low as -15 ° C .

young rhubarb plants with frilly green leaves and purple stems growing in a large pot outside

care for rhubarb over the wintertime menstruation involves :

This process is explained in more depth in this usher .

1) Move Pot-Grown Rhubarb Undercover

Rhubarb is a hardy flora and here in the UK does not generally postulate any winter protective cover .

In fact , rhubarb actually take a duo of month with temperature close to freezing decimal point to grow well .

That being say , frost can damage any new growth or pot - mature industrial plant , so it can be advisable to move any container - grown pieplant out of a frost scoop or exposed site to the lee of a wall .

close-up of a wilted rhubarb leaf that has turned brown

2) Remove Old Foliage

In fall , the rhubarb foliation and stem will naturally conk back and become subdued and tatty looking .

After dying back , the leaf can be cut away with a fair and crisp pair of secateurs or a knife and removed and composted safely , as the leave will lose their perniciousness as they decompose .

3) Mulch Annually

Being thirsty feeders , rhubarb plants , whether grow in the ground or in containers , will benefit from an annual mulch of organic matter or well - rotted manure .

This mulch can be added in winter or early springtime and will not only assist feed the plant for the growing season but also assist economize moisture during the warmer months .

To turn out effectual , this stratum of mulch should be 5 - 8 cm thick and propagate evenly around the works , being thrifty not to cover the crown or mature tips , as this can precede to the crown rotting .

large green leaves growing from the purple stems of a rhubarb plant growing from ground covered with a weed barrier

4) Divide Older Plants

Over time , rhubarb plants can lose vigour or become congested , so they can benefit from being divided every 4 - 5 years .

In wintertime when the rhubarb is inactive , plainly lift the jacket crown with a spade from the land and split it into 2 - 3 firearm using a tongue , control that each new air division has at least 1 - 2 raw bud .

“ I like to practice an old gelt tongue for dividing works , ” deal Dan Ori , a Master Horticulturist .

a small rhubarb division being planted out by a gardener wearing red gloves

“ On big thump , I expend acuate two nigger driven in back to back pulling the grip back and forth to jimmy the lump aside . ”

These new divisions can then be pot up or plant out to replace old line of descent .