Rhubarb season in washington state

While being raised on a farm i often ate rhubarb, so its natural for me to use it in a pie. These two little secrets helped this recipe win top honors at the 20 iowa state fair. In terms of food history, rhubarb was reportedly used in china as early as 2700 bc as a medicinal herb. Washington state produces the largest commercial rhubarb crop in the country, and pierce county is the big rhubarb hub. Hothouse rhubarb from washington state pops up in bay area stores as early as january. Mar 22, 2019 rhubarb is a cool season, perennial plant that is very winter hardy and resistant to drought.

Tasting raw rhubarb is a lot like being smacked in the face with a baseball. So you can plant a strawberryrhubarb patch this fall and enjoy a great harvest in spring. Rhubarb prefers organic, rich, well drained soil for best growth. Many of the 60 accessions of rhubarb maintained by the western regional plant introduction station here at washington state university are medicinal, says collection curator barbara hellier 00 m.

The pacific northwest is home to some famously delicious food, much of it driven by the vast array of fruits and vegetables that are harvested throughout the year in this region. See what fruits and vegetables are in season and likely available at markets from local sources in the state of washington. Harvesting rhubarb when and how to harvestpick rhubarb. Although swanson does no research on the tart vegetable, he is an avid enthusiast and considers it an acidic parallel to his work with cranberries. This produce calendar is for washington state, to find a produce guide for your state. Rhubarb is an easy to grow, nutritious vegetable that can live in the garden for 10 to 15 years, and deserves more attention. Washington climate factors affecting vegetable production. The usda plant hardiness zone map figure 2 provides information regarding extreme minimum temperatures for washington.

Chop the rhubarb into smaller, 14 to 12inch pieces. Rhubarb washington state magazine washington state university. Rhubarb washington state magazine washington state. It is grown for its tart, succulent leaf stalks that are usually cooked like fruit for sauces, pies, jams, preserves and wine. A halfdozen plants will provide enough rhubarb for a family of four. Depending on variety, it requires at least 500 hours of winter temperatures between 28 and 49f chilling hours to adequately form new leaf buds. In canada and the united states, the rhubarb season runs from about april to september, although it can also be grown forced. Northern californias fieldgrown rhubarb has just come to. Seasonal produce chart washington state chefs resources. Rhubarb is a coolseason crop that has the potential to be grown successfully in most, but not all, parts of virginia.

However, this product is stored and available in other seasons from local sources. Plant rhubarb crowns in the spring and look forward to tart, plump rhubarb stalks. Rainier loop, where you can travel highway 410 to sunrise and the chinook scenic byway and highway 161 south to paradise. Rhubarb is ready to consume as soon as harvested, and freshly cut stalks are firm and glossy.

Most of the field grown rhubarb that is sold in the u. As a simple pan sauce, it lends a tart counterpoint to rich roast game or the springs first run of salmon. And obviously, given his rhubarb enthusiasm, swanson is from the midwest, where every old farmstead has a rhubarb patch. Time to make cocktail bitters originally published april 12, 2016 at 6. Get the most out of your rhubarb plants with these rhubarb growing tips and find out when is the best time to harvest rhubarb. Whats in season in april 2020, and other timely information.

Divide when plants are dormant in early spring or fall. Vegetables are generally divided into warm season summer crops and. Rhubarb should be planted at the end of one side of the garden where it will not be disturbed since it may be productive for five years or more. Although swanson does no research on the tart vegetable, he is an. Once planted, rhubarb plantings remain productive for 8 to 15 years. Washington and oregon are among the topproducing areas in the u.

I prefer to use lard for the flaky pie crust and thin, red rhubarb stalks for the filling. Perfect temperatures, overcast skies and a smattering of rain have helped growers produce a nice crop. Washington grown produce seasonality chart wsda farm to. Northern californias fieldgrown rhubarb has just come to market and should be available. Resist the temptation to pick all the stems in the first year, so that the plants can become properly established. Rhubarb is the name given to several species of herbaceous perennial plants in the genus rheum, including r. The sumner downtown promotion association put on a great festival complete. Do not harvest any stalks during the first growing season so that your plants can become established. In the united states it grows best in the northern states from maine south to illinois and west to washington state. The best way to see what produce is in season is to take a walk through your local. Around this time the hothouse grown rhubarb is done, so their seasons may just barely overlap.

Rhubarb grows best in full sun, on rich, welldrained soil. Once your plants are established, provide them compost, rotted animal manure and organic mulch annually and water them during the dry season. Barry swanson, professor of food science, and i see eye to eye on at least one significant issue. Find out whats available when with the handy charts below. Keep in mind harvest dates are approximate and subject to mother nature. One of the few perennial vegetables, rhubarb grows back year after year if cared for properly. The earlier dates are more applicable to southwest washington and the later dates for more northerly or colder areas. In northern gardens it is grown as a perennial and harvested from late spring through summer, depending on the location. Hothouse rhubarb is produced in washington and michigan with the total u. The length and the thickness of the stalks varies according to weather conditions and the variety of the rhubarb. Apr 04, 2019 washington state produces the largest commercial rhubarb crop in the country, and pierce county is the big rhubarb hub. Hothouse rhubarb is, as richter explains, a delicacy. Rhubarb stalks are approximately 10 15 inches long when ready to harvest. But, this is also a plant that home gardeners could take on.

Rhubarb plants grow your own rhubarb and within two years youll be harvesting the stems by the armful. Usually after 3 years, the harvest period runs 8 to 10 weeks long. Following a season of growth the rhubarb crown becomes dormant and temperatures below 40f 5c are required to stimulate bud break and subsequent growth. Because it is a longlived perennial, take care in finding a sunny location for your rhubarb. In washington, the domestic rhubarb season has kicked off in ideal conditions. Garden guides vegetable planting in washington state. Harvest the stalks when they are 12 to 18 inches long. Rhubarb is not eaten fresh but rather is cooked in pies, tarts and sauces.

But since rhubarb thrives where weather is cool and can persist into summer, consider other options. Harvest sparingly for a week or two the second year and more generously the third year 4 to 6 weeks. On the west side the winters are mild, in usda zones 7 or 8, and the summers are cool. The most famous dish of course is strawberry rhubarb pie. We like our rhubarb pie to be made exclusively with rhubarb. Rhubarb also cans and freezes very well for eating out of season. Mar 27, 2009 but since rhubarb thrives where weather is cool and can persist into summer, consider other options. This chart indicates the typical growing season of produce thats organic and local fruits and vegetables plucked fresh from fields, farms and orchards. The first field grown rhubarb typically shows up in late march to early april. Rhubarb summer squash, white scallop summer squash, yellow summer squash, zucchini tomatillos tomatoes turnips, root mesclun often includes arugula, chervil, leafy lettuces, endives and other greens such as mizuna, radicchio or sorrel. Rhubarb college of agricultural sciences oregon state. Rhubarb can hold its own on the savory side of dinner. The beautiful veggie, whose color can range from pale pink to deep maroon, is full of flavor and sweetness, similar to a.

We started a little rhubarb patch in our garden a few years ago and its doing really well, so i thought it might be fun to talk a little bit about growing rhubarb and since were right in the thick of rhubarb season now, answer the big question, whens the. In the northwestern us states of oregon and washington, there are typically two harvests, from late april to may and from late june into july. Its crop is produced from crowns consisting of fleshy rhizomes and buds. The length and the thickness of the stalks varies according to weather conditions and the variety of. Puyallup farmers timothy richter left and his father tim richter, pack up their hothouse rhubarb, in season now. Of course, weather changes, season variations, variety of a crop planted and other factors profoundly affect the dates, so this is a general guide only. Washington states pick your own farms and orchards for fruit, vegetables, pumpkins and more. Last july i bought five pounds of gorgeous, pristine rhubarb stalks in washington state. Most experts agree that rhubarb should not be harvested the first year. Sumner, washington rhubarb pie capital of the world.

Pour the stewed rhubarb over ice cream, cakes or use it as a syrup for pancakes or waffles. In 2012, the most recent year for which agricultural census data are available, the two states had more than 650 acres in rhubarb production. Rhubarb vegetable directory watch your garden grow. In puyallup, rhubarb grows on the dark side seattle magazine. Youll be able to preserve that unique rhubarb flavor until next season. Washington state for fruit, vegetables, pumpkins and other crops. May 14, 2003 this weeks look at whats new, bountiful or mysterious in the produce aisles. Washington grown vegetable seasonality chart washington state. May 25, 2018 in washington, the domestic rhubarb season has kicked off in ideal conditions. Resist the temptation to pick all the stems in the first year, so that the plants can become properly. Most rhubarb production now is centered in the states of washington, oregon and michigan, although it is a popular home garden vegetable across the northern tiers of states. How to know the right time to harvest rhubarb the creek. Rhubarb rhubarb is a hardy, cold season perennial vegetable.

Washington state produces the largest commercial rhubarb crop in the. Growing seasons for local, organic produce pcc community markets. To harvest, grasp an outer stalk at the base and, with a slight twisting motion, pull firmly. So you can plant a strawberry rhubarb patch this fall and enjoy a great harvest in spring. Washington state crop harvest calendar when fruit and vegetables. By a fortuitous coincidence only explained as divine design our texas rhubarb season and strawberry season run concurrently. However, swanson actually prefers his rhubarb as sauce, over ice cream.

See whats in season in washington state the spruce. Rhubarb is a perennial vegetable that grows well in most of the united states. A coldhardy perennial, rhubarb is one of the first crops of spring. While rhubarb is often called the pie plant, rhubarb is also good in other desserts, jams and more. Washington grown vegetable seasonality chart by healthier us school challenge vegetable group categories produce green arugula. On the east side, winters are colder, in usda zones 5 and 6, and summers are hot, with temperatures often rising into the high 90s or low 100s.

Early varieties like timperley early can be forced grown in darkness under a large pot or rhubarb forcer or left to grow naturally. Washington is divided into two climate areas by the cascade mountains. Sep 21, 2017 washington is divided into two climate areas by the cascade mountains. Harvesting rhubarb when and how to harvestpick rhubarb stalks. What a fun weekend celebrating all things rhubarb here in the rhubarb pie capital of the world. The sumner downtown promotion association put on a great festival complete with live see more. This is produced mostly in the states of oregon, washington and michigan. Amend the planting area with compost and rotted animal manure and make a series of hills or a raised bed. Five minutes to the washington state fair, featuring the rodeo, concerts and worldfamous scones.