Green stalked rhubarb

by Marcia
(Abbotsford, BC Canada)

I have 2 rhubarb plants in my garden. Every spring the leaves get huge and beautiful and I am excited about a good crop. However, the stalks are thin and green and never really get red. Is this just a variety of rhubarb or am I doing something wrong? We aren't big on fertilizing so that may be the problem. Thanks.

Doug says there are green-stalked varieties of rhubarb indeed and these are often found in home gardens. The red stalked ones 'Valentine' etc tend to be redder. So yes, green stalks are quite common and indeed normal.

As for not being big on fertilizing - the real trick with rhubarb is to mulch it and toss compost on it every year and stand back. They'll become huge with this treatment.