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If you live in the south, the odds are great you have never had fresh rhubarb. Exceptions would be if you are originally from the northern areas or have friends/relatives that you visit up north. This is primarily due to the cold nature of the plant. It does not grow well in warm climates.

Rhubarb is a stalk and leaf type plant and is considered a vegetable even though most times it is prepared with sugar. The stalk resembles celery and the leaves can be quite large for a plant. One thing to bear in mind is: THE LEAVES ARE POISONOUS TO EAT. Never eat a rhubarb leaf.

With all of that, how to grow rhubarb is a common question. Rhubarb requires cold temperatures of below 40F in order to stimulate growth. If your winter temperatures are milder than that, you may be successful growing rhubarb if you treat it as an annual, but your stalks will probably not be as thick as outdoor grown rhubarb.

Rhubarb can be started as seeds, but it is more difficult to start in this manner as well as your plants will have thin stalks, if you are successful in starting the seeds. Over time, however, they may flourish and become productive.

Rhubarb is best to start from a bare root. The root is planted in the early spring in well-drained soil. Once the root is established you will see growth appear above ground. These start as a small stalk with a leaf popping out of the soil.

As temperatures remain below 90F, foliage will continue to grow. Once temperatures exceed 90F, growth will stall and may even appear to die back some. However, when temperatures drop below 90F again, growth resumes in time for a fall harvest.

When planning where to grow rhubarb, there are a few things to consider. The plant has large leaves. If it is possible, put your plants where they will be protected from the fiercest winds for your area.

Do not plant under certain species of trees as the trees can harm the plants. Black walnut trees have an acid that can kill or stunt the growth of the rhubarb plants growing under it. Other trees may have the same result.

In addition, if you have pets and/or small children, it is best of you can cordon off the rhubarb plants to prevent accidental consumption of the poisonous leaves. Mine are planted around our shed and grow waist high with seed stalks reaching eye level. Wire fencing keeps unwanted intruders away from them.

The first year stalks should not be harvested. The plant will be storing nutrition to build up the root system. If you can resist the temptation, the second

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