Description
German Wine rhubarb is a unique, cold-hardy variety known for its green stalks with a pink interior and exceptional flavor that resembles a mild, fruity wine. It is less tart than many traditional rhubarb types and is highly valued for fresh use, baking, and preserves. This variety is vigorous, productive, and long-lived, making it well suited for home gardens and market production, especially in cooler climates.
Care Instructions
Light: Full sun to partial shade. Best production occurs with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight.
Watering: Keep soil consistently moist, especially during active growth. Avoid letting soil dry out completely, but do not allow standing water.
Soil: Rich, well-draining soil high in organic matter is ideal. Slightly acidic to neutral pH works well.
Fertilizing: Apply compost or a balanced fertilizer in early spring. Rhubarb benefits from regular feeding due to its heavy growth.
Pruning: Remove flower stalks as they appear to maintain strong stalk production. Cut back foliage in late fall after it dies back.
Mulching: Apply a thick layer of mulch such as straw or compost to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and protect crowns in winter.
Support: No support required.
Pollination: Not required. Plants are grown for their stalks.
Harvesting: Begin light harvesting in the second year and full harvesting in the third year. Harvest stalks when they are 10–15 inches long. Do not remove more than one-third of the plant at a time.