I couldn't resist this lovely lovely plant... I know it's completely the wrong time for this to happen, I know it probably won't work out between us, but there is no going back now, it was love at first sight.
It just looked so healthy and perfect. The fresh green of the leaves irresistibly appealing, the unblemished surfaces a compelling argument for their purchase, it was softly and quietly faultless amongst the crowd.
So I bought the rhubarb. It really did look so much nicer than anything else at the nursery, and so many things in my own garden are battered and rotting from all this rain. Baby pumpkins are falling off the vine, the tomatoes have given up the will to help me transform them into jam, even most of the cucumbers have succumbed under the attack of the ladybugs.
I've got no idea how it's going to go. On my Digger's planting guide it says to plant rhubarb in May in the subtropics, so I'm well and truly in queue for that boat. I have read that they are a perennial though, so surely it's worth a try.
It looks happy. Planted out in the shade under the watchful eye of the chickens, nestled in between some beans and lettuce.
9 comments:
Well, of course you are planting rhubarb when you shouldn't be...I wouldn't expect anything else of you. You non-conformist, you! Hope it grows well.
Hazel, all I can think of when I write these posts is, is everyone just going "what, what is she doing planting THAT at THIS time of year, is she NUTS!!"
But then you come along with your kind comments and I think, yeah, in fact people don't really mind what I plant when... I hope it grows too :)
Plants will do what they want..if its happy it will grow...i put in rhubarb when we first arrived here 2 years ago(althou i did plant mine at the right time LOLOLOLOL)it has been split right up the wazoo that many times and it still going silly..apparently your not meant to split it for a couple of years..so they do as they please kinda like my children
FarmGirl, split right up the wazoo is the most fabulous expression I have hear for a long time, I hope mine lasts long enough to need this sort of treatment!
Hmmm, all these strange Aussie terms for me to understand... (must look up "wazoo").
Your rhubarb looks very healthy, though I am surprised it has such rounded leaves. The ones I know usually have pointed leaves with serrations.
A nice way to eat rhubarb is to roast it in the oven, covered with foil, with some spices like ginger and cinnamon, and some orange juice and zest, then leave it to cool and serve it over some pannacotta.
Mark's comment about the leaves is interesting. I thought I was looking at spinach at first. It may be because photographs don't always indicate scale so perhaps it's the age of the plant (early days) - or it may be the variety. Do you know what kind it is?
Esther
Wazoo is a bit of a fabulous word, isn't it? The recipe sounds lovely Mark, and I am a bit fan of roasting, if this rhubarb works I will most certainly give it a try.
Esther I took a look at the tag and it says rhubarb "Victoria". I googled some images and you are both right, the leaves of mine look very different. Not having grown rhubarb before I have no idea of why this is so, I do hope it is rhubarb!
I'll watch the leaves and see what they do.
I'm terribly glad you decided to plant rhubarb out of season... because your photos of the luscious leaves are spring-like and delightful! Good luck with it!
Aww thanks Eliza, I loved the leaves too!
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