Vegetables - Rhubarb
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  (September) I was raised in Michigan and my father always had a small patch or rhubarb. I loved its tartness and taste, especially in pies. I know rhubarb is a cool-weather crop and probably next to impossible to grow in Arkansas. I have a place in mind to give it a try but thought I would run it by you first. This spot is in the northwest corner of my yard. Between the house and a tree line of tall oaks, this area probably get a maximum of 6 hours of direct sunlight. The soil is kind of poor. It's a sandy-clay soil that stays wet most of the time. Any suggestions about the location described above would be greatly appreciated.

  As you are obviously aware, rhubarb does prefer a cooler climate. However, we have many gardeners in the state that are growing it with mild success. The key is to give it a cooler spot in your yard, make sure it is kept well watered and that the site is rich. The poorly drained, sandy/clay soil you are talking about doesn't sound promising. Choose a location that gets morning sun and afternoon shade, and even then, consider giving it some extra shading if we get an extremely hot, dry spell. Make sure the site is well drained, and amend the soil with plenty of compost and if you have it, manure. Then plant, mulch and water when dry. You can successfully grow rhubarb -- it may not be the huge stalks you can get up north, but it is rhubarb, and if you like it, worth the effort.

  (October) My Mom is planning to move from Bentonville to Conway in the fall. She has a couple of rhubarb plants (the green type) that were given to her by a dear friend and she would like to move them with her. I have heard that several people in the Hot Springs area have been able to keep these alive over the winter by planting them in pots and leaving them outside. I was wondering if it makes a difference in the type of pot -- wood or plastic. Or if you have a better suggestion, we are open to it.

  In my opinion, it would be easier to plant rhubarb in the ground than struggle with it in a pot. Rhubarb does better in a more northern climate, but there are many rhubarb lovers who do grow it  successfully in central Arkansas. Plant it in the coolest spot in your yard where it gets morning sunlight. Give it a fairly rich site, water when dry and mulch. There is even a group of Rhubarb lovers who formed a club and meet monthly to share their successes and eat rhubarb pie. I think they are still in operation. For more information call Allan Ward 501-664-5921.

  My problem is in growing rhubarb. According to my fifty year old garden book, it says we have crown rot on our rhubarb plants. The old book, says to use a 50-1 ratio of formaldehyde. (That will give you a clue on the book’s age!) Could you give me a program to successfully grow rhubarb in northern Arkansas?

  Rhubarb is a tricky crop to grow in Arkansas, due to the heat and humidity of our summers. There are people who grow it successfully in the state, but the northern part of the state should have the best success. Rhubarb is a perennial vegetable, so it needs to be planted in a spot in the garden and allowed to grow. It would do best if planted in a raised bed, this should ensure against the crown rot. Plant as early in the spring as you can work the ground. Plant the crown bud two inches below the soil surface, and 36 - 48 inches apart. To avoid heat stress, plant where it gets full morning sun, and some protection from the hottest afternoon sun. Fertilize in early spring and again in late June. Water whenever dry. Mulching can help moderate soil temperature and keep moisture in, but avoid covering the crowns. To make sure you have fresh rhubarb each season, you may want to plant new plants each year and weed out the plants that have started playing out--usually within three to five years.

  We moved here from Wisconsin, so this hot weather makes a difference with our gardening. We have had difficulty growing some of our old regulars. Will rhubarb grow in Arkansas? We had two rhubarb plants last year that only grew for a couple of months, and then just rotted away. We are retired and tired of the snow and cold,, and really like it here. But we also like gardening–both for the food and something to do. We would appreciate any help.

  Rhubarb can be a challenge, but it is possible to grow here–probably not to the standards you were used to, but it will grow. Plant it in well-composted soil on the north or east side of your house. Give it protection from the hot afternoon sun. Good drainage is essential. It may be that with last summers heat, you were watering constantly, and in heavy soils, this will lead to rot. The northern half of the state has an easier time with Rhubarb, but it sure isn’t Wisconsin.

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