Rhubarb Glaskins Perpetual Seeds

Info: Rhubarb `Glaskins Perpetual` produces large, long stemmed, bright red stalks which are juicy and hold good flavour. It is the only rhubarb that can be harvested late in the season as the oxalic acid content remains low. It is excellent for forcing and for tarts, pies, jam and wine. Rhubarb is hardy to around minus 29°C.

Sowing & cultivation: Sow in late winter to spring or late summer to autumn. Soak the seeds in water for a few hours before planting. Plant the seeds in a peaty mixture or into peat pots to making transplanting them easier and then put them in a sunny window. For spring sown seedlings, transplant outside when the plants about 3 to 4in tall. For autumn sown seedlings, plant them outside in early April. Space 1 metre apart. Good garden drainage is essential in growing rhubarb. The flower and seed stalks should be cut out as soon as they start forming as flowering will reduce the vigour of the plant. Don`t pick the stalks in the first year. A light picking may be taken during the second year, and from the third year full harvest can start.