Overview

Cultivate your own delicious harvests with this offering of 3 Victoria Rhubarb bare root starter plants. Victoria Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum ‘Victoria’) is a classic heirloom perennial vegetable renowned for its robust growth, disease resistance, and distinctive sweet-tart flavor. These bare root plants provide an excellent foundation for establishing a productive rhubarb patch in your garden. Known for its thick, tender stalks, Victoria Rhubarb is a favorite among home gardeners and culinary enthusiasts alike, bringing a taste of tradition to your kitchen and garden.

This variety is celebrated for its versatility in the kitchen, perfect for making pies, crumbles, sauces, and jams. Growing your own Victoria Rhubarb bare root plants ensures a fresh, organic supply of this beloved ingredient. It’s a low-maintenance addition to any garden, thriving with minimal intervention once established, and offers a bountiful yield season after season. Prepare to enjoy the unique apple-gooseberry flavor with hints of lemon and wine that makes Victoria Rhubarb truly special.

Key Benefits

Adding Victoria Rhubarb bare root to your garden provides numerous advantages, from its culinary appeal to its resilience and ease of care. These benefits make it an ideal choice for both novice and experienced gardeners seeking a rewarding and productive plant.

• Exceptional Flavor Profile: Enjoy the unique sweet-tart taste, often described as a blend of apple and gooseberry with subtle lemon or wine notes, perfect for a wide range of desserts and savory dishes.
• High Yields: This heirloom variety is known for its abundant production of thick, tender stalks, providing a generous harvest each season for all your culinary needs.
• Disease Resistance: Victoria Rhubarb offers strong natural resistance to common plant diseases, ensuring a healthier and more vigorous plant with less effort.
• Low Maintenance: Once established, these plants require minimal care, making them an excellent choice for gardeners looking for productive yet easy-to-manage crops.
• Deer and Pest Resistant: Its natural properties deter common garden pests and deer, protecting your harvest without the need for extensive intervention.
• Perennial Growth: As a hardy perennial, it returns year after year, providing a long-term source of fresh rhubarb with a single planting.
• Versatile Culinary Use: The stalks are ideal for baking, making jams, sauces, and even savory dishes, offering endless possibilities in the kitchen for anyone looking to grow Victoria Rhubarb.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Victoria Rhubarb bare root plants is straightforward, ensuring a healthy and productive patch for years to come. These plants thrive in specific conditions that mimic their natural environment. Rhubarb prefers a location with full sun exposure, meaning at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. In hotter climates (USDA Zones 9-10), partial shade during the intense afternoon hours can prevent scorching and stress, allowing the plant to flourish. Adequate sunlight is crucial for developing strong stalks and robust flavor.

The right soil is paramount for successful rhubarb growth. Victoria Rhubarb requires fertile, rich, and well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. A soil pH between 6.0 and 6.8 is ideal. Before planting, amend your soil generously with compost or well-rotted manure to improve fertility and drainage. Water consistently, especially during dry spells, to keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Overwatering can lead to root rot, while underwatering can stunt growth. Fertilize in early spring with a balanced organic fertilizer to support vigorous growth and a bountiful harvest. These tips are essential to properly rhubarb plant care.

Victoria Rhubarb is a resilient plant, resistant to many common pests and diseases, and is also generally deer resistant. This makes it a low-maintenance choice for gardeners. Mulching around the base of the plants can help retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. While generally hardy in USDA Zones 3-8, in warmer regions, it can be grown as an annual. Proper winter preparation, such as applying a layer of mulch, will help protect the crowns in colder zones, ensuring your perennial rhubarb returns strong each spring.

Size & Details

These are 3 Victoria Rhubarb bare root starter plants, ready for planting upon arrival. When mature, Victoria Rhubarb plants typically reach a size of 2–3 feet tall and spread 3–4 feet wide, creating a substantial and productive footprint in your garden. The stalks are notably thick and tender, exhibiting a green color with an attractive rosy-red blush at the base, and are not stringy, making them ideal for cooking. These bare roots are shipped without a pot, ensuring they are in their dormant state for optimal transplanting and establishment.

Victoria Rhubarb is a relatively fast grower once established, with the first light harvest typically possible in the second year after planting. For best results and to ensure the plant establishes a strong root system, it’s recommended to avoid harvesting in the first year. This heirloom variety is known for its consistent growth and reliable production, providing fresh rhubarb for many seasons to come. Its robust nature makes it an excellent choice for a long-lasting, delicious crop in your garden.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big do these Victoria Rhubarb plants get? A: Mature Victoria Rhubarb plants typically grow 2-3 feet tall and spread 3-4 feet wide, forming a substantial clump in your garden. They require adequate space to thrive and produce abundant stalks.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: Victoria Rhubarb is an outdoor perennial vegetable. It thrives in garden settings and is not suitable for indoor cultivation. It requires seasonal changes to produce well.
• Q: How much sunlight does Victoria Rhubarb need? A: These plants prefer full sun, meaning at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. In very hot climates, providing some partial shade during the hottest part of the day can be beneficial to prevent stress.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, Victoria Rhubarb is considered a low-maintenance plant once established. It’s resistant to many pests and diseases, making rhubarb plant care relatively easy for gardeners of all experience levels.
• Q: What condition will the bare root plants arrive in? A: Your Victoria Rhubarb bare root plants will arrive in a dormant state, carefully packaged without soil or a pot. This is the ideal condition for transplanting and establishing them in your garden.
• Q: Can I use this rhubarb in cooking? A: Absolutely! Victoria Rhubarb is prized for its sweet-tart stalks, perfect for pies, crumbles, jams, sauces, and other culinary creations. Remember to only consume the stalks, as the leaves are toxic.
• Q: When is the best time to plant Victoria Rhubarb bare roots? A: The best time to plant perennial rhubarb bare roots is in early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked. This allows the plant to establish its root system before the summer heat.
• Q: Will Victoria Rhubarb survive winter in my zone? A: Victoria Rhubarb is hardy in USDA Zones 3-8, meaning it will survive winter in these regions and return each spring. In warmer zones 9-10, it can be grown as an annual.
• Q: What kind of soil is best for growing Victoria Rhubarb? A: These plants prefer fertile, rich, well-draining soil with plenty of organic matter. A soil pH between 6.0 and 6.8 is ideal to help you grow Victoria Rhubarb successfully.
• Q: When can I start harvesting from my Victoria Rhubarb plants? A: To allow for proper establishment, it’s best to avoid harvesting in the first year. You can begin a light harvest in the second year, and full harvests in subsequent years, ensuring a long-lived and productive plant.