Alchimia Grow Shop presents Rocalba Rhubarb Victoria seeds, an edible and therapeutic plant with acidic aromas. It can be cultivated without much difficulty both in pots and in open ground in the garden.
Rocalba rhubarb Victoria, benefits from cool climates and rich soils
Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum) is a lively, rhizomatic, phanerogamous plant belonging to the Polygonaceae family. It is native to China and came to Europe in the 14th century via the silk route from Aleppo and Smyrna, and later from Russia. It is widely cultivated in France, Holland and England.
The plant can reach up to 2-3 metres in height, producing large green rounded leaves on the tips of many fleshy petioles 2-5cm thick, which are green or reddish in colour. It produces a thick rhizome in which it stores nutrients for the plant to regrow in spring.
The seeds are germinated in spring in a seedbed at a temperature between -5ºC and 13ºC. 3-4 seeds are placed in a soil and worm humus or compost mixture and covered lightly. The substrate should be kept moist and with good light, so that the seedlings begin to emerge in about 2-3 weeks.
Rocalba rhubarb Victoria, with an acid and sweet aroma, ideal to make jam
Once the plants reach 5-6cm, they can be transplanted into an intermediate pot. When they reach 25-30cm in size, the plants are ready for final transplanting into a pot or open ground in the garden with a 1m x 0.8m planting frame. It is advisable to avoid clayey and hard soil areas.
This plant benefits from cool climates but it also adapts to warm environments up to a temperature of 28ºC in summer in full sunlight. In case of being in an area with higher temperatures one should use shading meshes or cultivate them in semi-shaded areas to prevent them from drying out. It requires careful but frequent irrigation, keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged.
It is advisable to control slugs, snails and aphids. These attacks if they appear can be treated with organic phytosanitary products. From the second year onwards the longest stems can be harvested (50-60cm). They are cut by hand at late spring and a second harvest at late summer. The leaves are discarded and the fleshy stems are used to make jams or for pastry recipes.
Rocalba Rhubarb Victoria info:
- Sachet: 1g seeds
- Good results in both open ground and pots
- Germination: spring in seedbed
- Planting frame: 100cm x 80cm
- Up to 2-3m
- Requires cool and sunny climate, but is adapted to heat
- Requires direct sunlight or semi-shade
- Benefits from rich, light and drained soils, not clay
- Watering in moderation by keeping the soil moist, especially in summer
- Harvest: stems from the second year, in spring and late summer
- Discard the leaves, which are rich in oxalic acid
