Rhubarb is a fantastic plant for a winter garden, and will produce much stronger stalks if you just give it a small amount of care at this time of year. It is a very hardy and thrives in cold weather, but this can sometimes lead gardeners to overlook the effects of frost
If the ground repeatedly freezes and thaws, it can cause excess moisture to accumulate around the crown, increasing the risk of rot or dislodging the plant from the ground. Jami Boys, a gardener and founder of An Oregon Cottage, has shared that protecting rhubarb from the damp British weather is very easy, as you just need to mulch it. She said: “To prepare your plant for winter, after the first hard frost, cut back any remaining stalks and dress with a light two-inch layer of compost, leaves, or hay to protect the roots through the winter.”
Mulching is the simple gardening technique of covering the top layer of soil around a plant with material to keep it safe during extreme weather.
Rhubarb is mulched in winter to keep the soil temperature stable, which stops the ground freezing and prevents it from becoming waterlogged.
It is also a simple way to protect the crown so it stays as healthy and dry as possible in winter, so it produces much thicker stalks later on in the season.
How to mulch rhubarb in winter
It is best to use organic material like compost, hay, or dried-out leaves as mulch since they drain excess moisture quickly and will break down over time to feed the soil nutrients.
Once you have your mulch, get rid of any weeds or decaying foliage around the rhubarb to make sure the ground is as clear as possible.
You want the mulch to be loose so it drains easily, so spread it about five to 10 centimetres thick around the soil.
Make sure there is a gap between the mulch and the rhubarb crown, as you need to make sure there is plenty of air circulation around the centre of the plant.
Check the mulch regularly to make sure it does not become compacted, and it will protect the Rhubarb to keep it dry over winter.
You should only mulch rhubarb when the plant is dormant; otherwise, any new growth will be really tender and is more likely to die from pests or disease.
Remove the mulch in early spring to allow the soil to warm and encourage new rhubarb growth, which will result in much stronger stalks for the new year.
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