Most gardeners make the mistake of leaving rhubarb plants alone in summer since their harvesting season is over, but taking the time to care for them now will ensure you get a tastier stalk next year. Rhubarb should be resting in August as it needs to store energy for the colder seasons ahead, which means it needs plenty of water to keep it strong and healthy.
The sunny weather at this time of year can dry out the soil, stunting the roots and making them more susceptible to winter rot and other diseases next spring. It is also really important to watch out for weeds at the moment, as they can compete with rhubarb for nutrients in the soil and encourage slugs, which can greatly damage the plant.
However, Laura Azcarraga, a horticulturist and founder of Meadowlark Journal, has shared a simple way to protect rhubarb: plant strawberries near it.
Laura said: “The mention of strawberries and rhubarb together often evokes thoughts of delicious pies and jams. But their harmony extends beyond the kitchen.
“In the garden, strawberries benefit from the shade provided by rhubarb’s broad leaves, which helps keep their roots cool. In return, strawberries, with their ground-hugging nature, act as a living mulch for rhubarb, conserving moisture and suppressing weeds.”
Mulching is the simple gardening technique of placing organic material around a plant to protect it, and in summer, it is done to keep gardens hydrated for longer periods of time.
Strawberries are a low-growing plant that helps keep the soil shady and keeps more water in the ground.
This greatly helps rhubarb, as it needs consistent moisture in late summer to store energy and protect it from drought and dry weather in August.
The shadier environment will also reduce the number of weeds growing around the rhubarb and keep the soil cooler, which will greatly help the crop as it rebuilds its root system.
Rhubarb tends to be very vulnerable in late summer, and planting strawberries around the plant helps stop it from becoming stressed or overheated as it prepares to go dormant in autumn.
Once spring arrives, strawberries will also attract many pollinators to your garden, giving you a head start and making you more likely to have many flowers after winter.
Growing strawberries around your rhubarb plants is a natural way to protect them without having to use pesticides or fertilisers, so you can keep your garden healthy and organic.
Ensure the strawberries are planted at least 30cm away from the rhubarb, as planting them too close together could cause them to compete for nutrients.