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All about Rhubarb

• Rhubarb, fruit or vegetable?
• The rise and fall of rhubarb
• Several varieties available
• Red, green, pink
• Cultivation, division & propagation of rhubarb
• Rhubarb on your plate
• Where to get rhubarb plants

Rhubarb, fruit or vegetable? |

Rhubarb buds and leaves

Did you know that rhubarb is actually a vegetable although it is often used in cooking as a fruit? In the United States until the 1940s, it was considered a vegetable, but in 1947 a U.S. Customs court in Buffalo, New York, considered rhubarb a fruit because cooks use it mainly this way. By legally classifying rhubarb as a fruit, the court ensured that rhubarb could be taxed with lower import duties – even though rhubarb was not really a fruit.

The rise and fall of rhubarb |

According to Richter, the popularity of U.S.-grown rhubarb has declined in recent decades since its peak in the 1960s and 1970s. With so many international products coming from around the world, it can be difficult for this red plant to compete. on the global market. Additionally, most recipes require rhubarb to be cooked, which can make it less appealing than ready-to-eat products.

To learn more, consult our section on the history of rhubarb.

Several varieties available |

There are several varieties of rhubarb but they are not all available in Quebec. The varieties most often encountered in nurseries or garden centers are: Canada Red, Victoria, MacDonald, Strawberry Red, Sutton, Valentine, Glaskin's Perpetual, German Wine. To find out the characteristics of the different varieties consult the section on the varieties most often encountered.

In the past, varieties with green stems were the most popular, but nowadays rhubarb with red stems or with part of the stem red, such as 'Canada Red' , 'Valentine' or 'Macdonald' are becoming more and more popular. See the section on the use of rhubarb in cooking.

List of the most commonly encountered varieties

Red, green, pink |

The beautiful bright red stalks of rhubarb seen in some photos are mainly rhubarb which has been forced and often grown indoors (particularly in the UK) although there are varieties with bright red stem like Valentine even the inside of the stem is red. In addition, the color of the stems can vary from year to year, especially during the first two years of the plant.

The colors of the petioles may vary for the same variety if the plant was started from seed (cross-pollination). Please note that to faithfully reproduce a rhubarb plant, the one and only way to do so is to divide an existing plant. On the other hand, if experimenting and discovering new possibilities is one of your goals, wait until the flower stalk produces its ripe seeds before starting the plants with seedlings.

It is generally accepted that the nutritional value of rhubarb does not vary significantly between varieties. The important differences are acidity, texture, flavor and color. Individual plants change in acidity, texture and flavor as the plants age and even throughout the annual growth cycle. They tend to become more acidic and fibrous as the stems age each year.

Rhubarb in flowering

For rhubarb producers, the flower stalk has no commercial value. It is hollow and drains energy unnecessarily. This is why you can remove them as soon as they appear if your goal is not to collect seeds but take note that you will deprive yourself of a pretty floral spectacle.

It has generally been observed that the redder the stems, the less vigorous the plant. varieties with a weaker red color seem more susceptible to rust.

Cultivation, division & propagation of rhubarb |

To find out the type of soil, sunshine, type of fertilizer or any other questions related to growing rhubarb, consult our section Grow & divide rhubarb to learn more about growing and propagating rhubarb.

Rhubarb on your plate |

Visit the rhubarb recipes section. You will find both sweet and savory recipes as well as how to replace lemon with rhubarb. Compotes, juices, cocktails, drinks, wines, tarts, crisps, sorbets, sweets, dessert, smoothies, poached, braised, side dishes, stuffings, ice creams, sauces, curries, savory tarts, kimchis, ketchups, vinaigrettes, salsas, chutneys, marinades , salads, hot and cold soups.

Where to get rhubarb plants |

You will easily find rhubarb plants in spring in nurseries, garden centers and in certain renovation centers. Unfortunately the choice of cultivars in Quebec is often limited. But if you go early in the season the choice is greater. Here are the cultivars most often encountered: Canada Red, Cawood delight, Cherry Wine, German Wine, Glaskin's Perpetual, MacDonald, Red champagne, Strawberry Red, Sutton, Valentine, Victoria.

Visit our section on varieties to learn about their different characteristics.

It is also possible to find rhubarb seedlings online or in stores, especially heirloom varieties. As indicated in the Culture & propagation section, varieties propagated by seed will take longer to produce edible petioles (3 to 4 years) and will not be faithful to the mother plant.

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