Rhubarb & It's Seed Pods

Last year we planted a young rhubarb plant and knew it would take at least two years before we could harvest the stalks.  I also knew that if the plant produces rhubarb seedpods, you want to remove them, especially when the plant is young, because you want all its energy to be used for growing strong stalks.  About three weeks ago, I discovered a little seed pod developing on our plant, and though I knew at the time I needed to remove it, my curiosity got the best of me and I let it grow a little...I wanted to see what it would look like!

It blossomed into this little lovely little pod of rhubarbness...

Since then, I've learned so much more about rhubarb, one of my favorite vegetables (yes, vegetable, not a fruit as many would think).  The Old Farmer's Almanac has been a great resource for information about planting and growing rhubarb, as does The Rhubarb Compendium.  Farmers' Almanac has some good recipes, but no gardening information about it (I learned today that this particular almanac specializes in weather prediction, which is curious since I am using it as my primary gardening by the moon guide).

So here we go with my process...

...I found the pod above, and when I returned from my trip a few days ago, I went to see the rhubarb.  I found a growing seed pod, and knew right then I had to cut it away.

This is the pod up close, pretty, isn't it?

This is the beginning to bloom pod, looking a little like cauliflower...

...so I cut the stem off...

...and up close realized it needed closer trimming to prevent any infestation into the little cavity there...

...so I clipped if further (you need some good sharp shears for this job)...

...I was able to cut it down to the quick, you know, they way you do when you clip your nail too short?  Well, for my rhubarb, this was the thing to do...and look how happy it is, little ants and all.

I didn't want to loose out on the pretty bloom, so I put it in a vase...

...and this is a close up with a raindrop falling from it's pod...I really liked that I could capture this while I was standing there, not sure how dramatic it is in photo-life so to say, but it was quite stunning this morning!

Thanks far reading my blog, you are the best f/f/r/s/f's, see you tomorrow,
Lise