Rhubarb is a firm favourite in the kitchen, with a range of sweet and savoury dishes that can be made with the versatile vegetable. But if you’re looking for a way to give your rhubarb plants a boost, then you should consider a natural remedy
You can make rhubarb taste sweeter(Image: undefined via Getty Images)
Rhubarb plants, with their distinctive tart flavour, are a breeze to grow and offer a variety of culinary uses from crumbles and pies to preserves and cordials, making them an excellent choice for any gardening enthusiast.
These hardy perennials can withstand even the harshest winter conditions, but they do have one key requirement: fertilisation. Rhubarb is a heavy feeder, needing ample nutrients to produce its large stalks and leaves.
For those cultivating rhubarb in pots, fertilising is especially crucial due to the limited soil volume, which can quickly deplete in nutrients or lose them when watered.
A gardener seeking advice on how to fertilise rhubarb took to the Backyard Vegetable Farmers Facebook group, where several members recommended using iron nails in the soil, reports the Express.
Erin Jones shared her family’s practice: “My grandfather swore by iron in the ground. We planted ours over old chains and miscellaneous iron nails. We always have a beautiful patch.”
Monique MacNeil offered a similar tip: “I’ve always been told to put a rusty nail deep under each plant base.”
Some gardeners believe that rusty nails will give rhubarb plants a boost(Image: Getty)
Annette Yates observed significant improvement after adopting this method: “We started using iron nails a couple of years back and they now grow super strong and quick compared to before!”.
Marie Gatehouse recounted her mother’s experience: “My mother grew rhubarb for years. She always used iron. Like old nails and old chains.
“It worked, her rhubarb was deliciously sweeter and amazing! She would work the rusty nails and chains into the soil.”
The optimal period to nourish rhubarb is during spring or early summer, which aids in bolstering the growth of the new season.
Gardening experts suggest that instead of utilising iron nails, one should consider adding homemade garden compost, well-rotted manure, or an organic concentrated fertiliser in granular form to enrich the soil.