Rhubarb Start/Hill. $10.00 per Start/Hill. New this spring, from my harvested seed, PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN CARDBOARD BOX(S) OR EQUIVANT TO TAKE YOUR START(S) WITH YOU.

　　Rhubarb (Crimson Red) can be successfully transplanted in early fall. Fall-planted rhubarb should be mulched with several inches of straw. The mulch provides additional time for the rhubarb plants to reestablish before the ground freezes. After planting, water thoroughly. Rhubarb needs good drainage, plenty of water and fertilizer orRhubarb (Crimson Red)

　　compost.

　　To prepare the bed, you will need to dig out a 2- to 4-foot-wide by 1-1.5 -foot-deep area for each plant. If your soil has poor drainage, consider creating a raised bed. An undersized bed may discourage optimal root growth and hold water leading to root rot. Work 3 to 4 inches of compost or composted manure into the soil. Cover the bed with an inch of straw mulch, and add an additional 2 inches after the ground freezes. Remove the stalks and leaves after the first killing frost. While fine for the compost heap, do not eat the stalks at this time. The oxalic acid, a powerful toxin in rhubarb leaves, moves into the stalks when the leaves are damaged.

　　Remove grass and weeds as they crowd the plants and can harbor insects that damage rhubarb. You can add a little compost or composted manure once the plant is fully dormant. Adding too much in fall can delay dormancy needed for winter hardiness.

　　After the ground freezes, add about 3 inches of mulch to your existing rhubarb plants or new transplants. Waiting for the freeze helps the plant become fully dormant and discourages rodents from establishing routes under the mulch and snacking on your plant's roots over winter.