Are you thinking—”Should I Let my Rhubarb Flower?” If you are not sure about it, then here’s our guide on What to Do with Rhubarb Flower.
Usually, Rhubarb is cultivated for its stems, and most gardeners remove blooms just when they appear. If you are someone who’s thinking—”Should I Let my Rhubarb Flower,” then we will help you out!
Here’s all you need to know about how to grow Rhubarb
What is Rhubarb?
Rhubarb is a perennial veggie with light green or long crimson stalks and ruffled green leaves. The long stalks are chopped and cooked into several side dishes.
The huge dark green leaves look like spinach and are not typically cooked or eaten as they have a high concentration of oxalic acid.
Does Rhubarb Flower?
Rhubarb develops flowers naturally like most other plants. Older plants tend to flower more than younger plants, and it needs good sunlight exposure, along with a well-draining growing medium to do so.
Also, the color of the flowers depends on the variety. They might vary in red, yellow, green, or white.
Want to know the difference between Rhubarb and Swiss Chard? Click here
Should I Let my Rhubarb Flower?
Although rhubarb flowers are beautiful, they take plenty of plant energy. This is why people tend to remove them to make their plants grow more healthy edible stalks.
So, if you want your plant to be bushy and produce more stalks, cut down the flowers as soon as you spot them. Let them grow if you don’t mind the plant showing off its blooms!
How to Remove Rhubarb Flowers?
Follow these steps to remove rhubarb flowers successfully:
- Make a clean cut using a sharp knife to snip away the flowers.
- Cut the flowering stalks as close to the crown as possible.
- Do not leave much of the stalk present; it can start to rot. If the rotting is left unchecked, it can get to the plant’s crown and kill it.
Check out the list of best perennial vegetables here
What to Do With Rhubarb Flowers?
Well, the good news is, you can eat them! Yes, you read that right! These flowers taste earthly and can be a great addition to salads. However, keep a few points in mind:
- The tiny individual flowers on the head of the stalk do not have oxalic acid, so they are safe to eat.
- The flower’s stem has oxalic acid, so make sure you remove all of it, along with the leaves and papery bracts.
- Boil the flowers with broccoli sprouts for 6-8 minutes, and then sauté them in olive oil. They also taste great as a stir fry.
How to Prevent Rhubarb from Flowering?
The best way to stop it from flowering or seeding is to divide the older, mature plants. If the rhubarb plants are 5-6 years older and above and begin to bloom, it is a good indication that they are now ready to be divided. Spring is the best time to do it.
