Rhubarb

[tazs67]

I have an abundance of rhubarb and I'm not too sure what to do with it - Does anyone have any favorite recipies? Although I love strawberry-rhubarb pie, I'm also looking for something new/different.

Also, does anyone have a method for freezing excess rhubarb?

Thanks - Apryl

[jammar9082]

We cut it up in one inch pieces(dice) and cover it with boiling water for about five minutes. This is letting the rhubarb set in the hot water and not boiling it on the stove. Then cool with water and bag it and freeze. A wire basket works well going between the hot water and the cool water.

[OzarkGarden]

Below is a website that has everything you need to know about Rhubarb, including growing tips, storing and tons of recipes! :)
Enjoy!

http://www.rhubarbinfo.com/

[Mariposa Gardens]

Rhubarb is my father's favorite thing to try and grow.....when he lived in Bristol he had several large green stalked varieties, and Valentine, a red stalked variety.....here in SC it has been a HUGE challenge to get a good patch established....not sure why it is so difficult here...but we are determined to do it...
My FAVORITE way to eat it is my grandmother's strawberry/pineapple/rhubarb jam.....unbelievably versatile, great on a hot buttered biscuit, over pancakes, or as a fantastic milkshake. My grandmother even made it as a cobbler with fresh biscuit dough.

I loosely follow her VERY loose instructions on making it....4 parts strawberries/1 part pineapple ( I use crushed with the natural juices)/ 1 part fine cut rhubarb, and on package strawberry jello mixed in. She would cook it down with about 4 cups of sugar, adding sugar by a cup until it thickened then canned it.....

[SherylGallant]

There are lots of recipes for rhubarb wine intenet

[Denninmi]

We don't consume alcohol in my family, so wine is out. But, I've put rhubarb through my juicer before, then diluted it with either club soda, diet 7 up, or similar, and sweetened it for a very nice beverage.

[mjc]

Denninmi...yep, I noticed that too...maple syrup time is fast approaching.

I don't want more recipes...I want more rhubarb. I ended up being reduced to two plants...so I'm in the process of getting more. But that is a multi-year project as, you don't harvest the first year after planting and only a little the next.

[Denninmi]

I don't want more recipes...I want more rhubarb. I ended up being reduced to two plants...so I'm in the process of getting more. But that is a multi-year project as, you don't harvest the first year after planting and only a little the next.

Have you ever tried starting some from seed, like Victoria or Glaskins Perpertual?

It seems, at least in my garden anyway, that the seedlings grow a lot faster than the ones from purchased rootstocks. I don't know if this is a function of the variety, since the seed ones tend to be the green-stalked ones without much red coloring, or what.

But, the seedlings seem to size up and be almost full-sized, if not really full, the first season if in a good site. Big enough to pick, anyway. Doesn't seem to hurt them, either.

[LuvsToPlant]

I have an abundance of rhubarb and I'm not too sure what to do with it - Does anyone have any favorite recipies? Although I love strawberry-rhubarb pie, I'm also looking for something new/different.

Also, does anyone have a method for freezing excess rhubarb?

Thanks - Apryl

taz...check the thread Recipes & Food Preservation
I bet you would get a lot of responses...
I myself enjoy a Rhubarb sauce.
Freezing: I just cut up and pack in freezer bags in portions
that I would use in pies etc...
I am a firm believer in blanching most vegetables before freezing but found over the years just packing them this way works well.

Den...
Rhubarb comes in different varaities red stalked, green stalked and some others in between.
You should be able to find some good red stalked seeds
Red stem is the most popular but tends to produce smaller yields than green stem.
I also want to mention that Rhubarb also seems to grow better in cooler regions
:)

[mjc]

I've got half a dozen seedlings to plant out, come spring...

And I'll be working on getting several 'named' varieties. Glaskins is one of them.

[lumina]

I agree w/ whomever it was above that said jam.
We made strawberry rhubarb jam in WA when we had lots of both.

[Mariposa Gardens]

I'd never heard of trying to start'em from seeds....we've always purchased roots...so they are pretty easy to start as seeds?

[LuvsToPlant]

Mar... it is easy to start from seeds, but if you collect your own they may not be true to parent.

mjc...did I see you say..it's almost maple syrup time??
We must be on a different time schedule up here in New England
than you. ??
:)

[mjc]

6 weeks to two months...soon, but not real soon...LtP. Definitely time to be getting everything together, that's for sure (since it's so snowy, I should probably spend some making spiles...)