The beginning of the season is a moment of intensive growth for rhubarb. Proper care and natural fertilization will make the harvest abundant as never before.
In early spring, the soil around rhubarb is often compact and poorly aerated. This is the result of winter rainfall, frost and melting snow. So the first step should be gentle loosening of the earth around the clump and thoroughly remove weeds. This simple procedure improves air access to the roots and facilitates the uptake of water and nutrients. The plant starts growing faster and builds leaf petioles more intensively, which is what is most valuable in rhubarb.
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It is also worth regularly removing emerging flower shoots. Their development weakens the plant and limits the growth of stems. The sooner you break them, the more energy the rhubarb will devote to building juicy crops.
The best time for the first fertilization is right after the soil thaws. In many regions of Poland this is the case Marchalthough in colder parts of the country it may be only the beginning of April. This is when the root system begins to work intensively. Rhubarb primarily needs nitrogen, which supports the development of leaves and petioles. However, we cannot forget about phosphorus (responsible for strong roots) and potassium, which affects the firmness and quality of the stems. Well-selected fertilization in early spring has a direct impact on the size and taste of the harvest.
Many gardeners reach for proven, natural solutions. Compound i well-fermented manure they improve the soil structure and provide the plant with the necessary nutrients in a gradual and safe way. However, one of the most popular home fertilizers is nettle slurry.
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To prepare it, just pour about a kilogram of fresh nettles with 10 liters of water and set aside for about two weeks. The mixture should be stirred every few days. When it stops foaming and becomes dark in color, it is ready for use. Before watering, it must be diluted in proportion 1:10 (one part manure to ten parts water). The ground around the rhubarb is watered with this solution every two to three weeks during the period of intensive growth.
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