Commonly called rhubarb, Gunnera tinctoria provides a dramatic aspect to gardens – to 8 foot-broad leaves and strange, flower-stalks that are spiny. Chilean rhubarb thrives in Sunset’s Climate Zones 14 to 17 if it’s planted in a relatively sheltered place from drying winds and salt for snow removal Anchorage spray even though it’s a species. Rhubarb needs little treatment besides regular watering once established and is easy to develop; nevertheless, annually repeated and pruning, mulching feeding throughout the growing period will assist the plant to achieve its full potential.
Plant rhubarb in a partly shaded mattress with deep -rich soil. Amend the soil in the planting site using a 6- to 8 inch- layer of compost worked into the soil in a depth of 15 inches using a fork that is cultivating.
Space Chilean crops at least six-feet apart to offer sufficient room for spreading to them. Avoid planting them any nearer than six-feet because the roots will become less capable to attract moisture in the soil and crowded.
Water Chilean rhubarb into a depth of 3″ a week until mid-October. Don’t permit the soil because the plant loses moisture rapidly through its huge leaves to dry for longer than half of a a day throughout the summer months.
Feed rhubarb crops every one month from April with 101010 slow release fertilizer used at three quarters power. After applying the fertilizer, water the plants thoroughly.
Mulch across the bottom of every plant using a 2 inch- layer of rotted manure to to diminish moisture reduction and offer yet another source of nutrients to the crops. The mulch in a 15-inch radius round the root of the plant.
Prune aged, dying leaves in autumn and spring. Snip off them . Layer the pruned leaves throughout the winter months or to protect the roots from moisture reduction in summer round the root of the plant as mulch.