Rhubarb belongs to the knotweed family and is therefore a vegetable. The plant is just as suitable for gardening beginners as for professionals.
It is easy to grow both in the garden and in raised beds. Rhubarb is only harvested and consumed until St. John's Day, June 24th. Oxalic acid is present in high concentrations in the leaves of the bush. You can still eat the sticks, but the leaves are not edible. After harvesting, it is recommended to process rhubarb within the next 24 hours. The sticks will last about three to four days in the refrigerator. The sour-tasting plant has been cultivated in Germany since around 1840. It originally comes from the mountainous regions of China, Mongolia and Siberia. There it was used primarily as a medicinal plant. It only came to Central Europe in the 18th century. If you harvest too early, the plant may die. It needs enough time to regenerate after harvesting. Since the second growth spurt begins at the end of June, the shrub needs a rest period beforehand.