Maine

[dowgirl71]

Dow Girl, what kind of comb does the Brahma have? The chicks should have what he has if it's not a straight comb. I also think the feathered legs are dominant. Mrs. Sedgewick???

Lazy Gardiner, this is the Dad, "Fuzzy Feet." It seems like they might be some pretty neat chicks. Yes, it is Mrs. Sedgewick. Is your granddaughter in her class?

 

[dowgirl71]

Dark Brahma over barred hens *should* give you barred cockerels and solid black pullets.

Thanks, keesmom! I'll keep you posted.

 

[IZZYBELLA]

I'm so glad rhubarb talk came up... I have several plants a previous owner had planted. Last year I didn't realize what they were until they were huge. Looking forward to trying some recipes this year!

 

[lazy gardener]

QT: I am jumping for glee over your Dom eggs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[LOVEMYCHICKS03]

Are rhubarb plants are huge! The stock that we just picked is 2 1/2 feet long!

 

[CoopChick719]

With all the rhubarb talk I do have a question. I have one plant growing on the side of the house. What do I need to look for to decide whether it is ready to harvest?

Thanks for asking Widget! I was wondering that myself!!

Well, I sure hope they end up delicious. They owe you for being so much trouble! 

I hope so too!! There are a few who will be good size in a few more weeks.

I just love rhubarb!  It gives so much and asks so little.  If I had an old bed like that, I'd top dress it with some compost, water it in a bit, give it a mulch and pick it this Summer.  Then, when it goes dormant in Fall,  prepare some new beds (with lots of organic matter and deeply dug, rhubarb sure likes to feed rich and will bear well if well fed).  Ideally, give each new clump an area of 5x5 feet.  I divide my established clumps into root balls about 18 inches across.  (in an old clump, tho, there will be HUGE tap roots, hard to dig up but worth the effort as the deep tap roots make them fairly drought proof). Where you have only one huge patch, you might want to leave part of the patch intact and only  divide some of it, so you will have something to pick from next year.  That is because it is counterproductive to pick from a new clump the first year (while it establishes itself). I like to divide clumps about every 4 years, they do so much better with fresh soil as they deplete the nutrients in the area after years and a large clump cannot get enough water in dry years.  It is hard to enhance to nutrients of established plants, tho they benefit from a good top dress of compost in the Fall and a good mulching.  Over the years, this process will keep you in a vigorous harvest and build your supply (and, when you have all the plants you want, make a great product for swaps or giving "starts" to friends!).

Rhubarb doesn't get "ripe".  The harvest are the stems of the leaves (the leaves themselves, of course, are poison).  As Lazy Gardner said, it is best to cut out the flower stems as soon as you see them. You can pick the leaf stems as soon as they are a decent size.  Do let the plant keep some leaves to carry on photosynthesis. The old leaves, as Lazy Gardner mentioned,  get pithy, tough or hollow.  The stem color has no bearing on readiness for harvest, some varieties have red stems and others have green.  Even on the same plant, the color of stems will vary, but that will not effect taste.  Good picking!

Thank you for the rhubarb lesson, longgrove!!
Much appreciated! I'm sure the neighbors won't mind me taking care of their rhubarb. .they probably don't even know it's there. Since it's in the raspberry patch under some tree limbs that have fallen down over the years and a bunch of junk they've thrown in said patch!!

 

[lazy gardener]

My Step-Mom harvests rhubarb here in Maine, freezes it and takes it on the plane with her to Fla. in the fall, so she can make Strawberry Rhubarb pies and jam when she picks those fantastic Fla strawberries in Feb.!!!

 

[LOVEMYCHICKS03]

I just harvested a stock.
guess what I'm getting for my birthday?

 

[lazy gardener]

Either a rhubarb pie or a big tractor with all the PTO attachments??? Either one would be sweet!!!

 

[LOVEMYCHICKS03]

Either a rhubarb pie or a big tractor with all the PTO attachments??? Either one would be sweet!!!

No....