Permaculture Blog #3: Rhubarb

Rhubarb is a very special food that I’ve had through out my life. I’ve grown it, my parents grew it, and my grandparents grew it. As we continue moving along with the Permaculture cards from Paul Wheaton’s Permaculture playing cards, I’ll delve a little into the amazing fruit called Rhubarb as well as my impression of the fruit.

Images taken with my iPhone

This plant has amazing flavor. I remember as a kid I thought that Rhubarb was a red celery stick. First things first! The part of the plant that you can eat is only the stalk. The red stalk is the ONLY part you can eat. The leaves are poisonous for human consumption. So, only eat the red stalks.

That being said, the plant is great and a perennial as the card alludes. I’ve planted Rhubarb many times. And, once the roots have set in the soil the tap root will get down into the ground for you. So when you harvest the stalks they will regrow for you.

Places that I’ve been able to successfully grow Rhubarb have been in northern climates and usually in shadier areas. They’ve done well for me when I lived in Ohio and in Washington state. I have not even attempted to grow them here in California. They like moist cool areas to do well. And boy it did well in Washington. My grandmother had 6 plants that would provide here with more than enough Rhubarb for her and grandpa, and 4 of her neighbors. But, here in California where I’m at…. The temps last week over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. And that would have killed the Rhubarb outright. Another reason why I’m not growing it here is that the leaves are not good for human consumption. I don’t want my kids confusing it with something else. We grow leafy greens for salads in the spring and fall. So, I don’t want them thinking its salad material. I will likely attempt growing Rhubarb again once I have a place that is not just a balcony and I can regulate a temperature that is ideal for them to grow.

How can you prepare Rhubarb? Oh, there are several. You can make a rhubarb relish and it’s a very similar texture and look of chunky applesauce. I’ve added it to salsa for added flavor and sweetness. Then, you can do a jelly or jam. And, you can make rhubarb pie. My favorite that my grandmother would make is strawberry rhubarb pie. It was so good! A homemade crust and fresh strawberries and rhubarb out of the garden is just amazing!

Image taken with my iPhone.

Rhubarb is a decent source of Vitamin C, K, and if I remember correctly a good source of calcium. Like I said, don’t eat the leaves! Eating them will not be good. It takes a lot to consume to kill you (like several pounds of them at once). But eating a leaf will definitely make you feel bad. Overall, the plant is delicious and I would recommend anyone to grow it who has the proper growing conditions and are in the right region.

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