Rhubarb U-Pick Orchards in Powell River, Comox Valley, Sunshine Coast areas of British Columbia in 2024, by county
Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for rhubarb that we know of in this area. Not all areas of any state, nor even every state, have rhubarb orchards that are open to the public. If you know of any others, please tell us using the add a farm form!
Remember to always check with the farm's own website or Facebook page before you go - or call or email them if they don't have a website or Facebook page. Conditions at the farms and crops can change literally overnight, so if you want to avoid a wasted trip out there - check with the farm directly before you go! If I cannot reach them, I DON'T GO!
PLEASE report closed farms, broken links and incorrect info using the "Report Corrections" form below.
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Comox Valley
- Ash Berry Farm - raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, restrooms, picnic area, farm animals
3210 Royston Road, Courtenay, BC V9N 9R3. Phone: 250-336-8872. Open: Our gates open at 8 am subject to berry availability; Please call ahead as we do run out of berries with high demand. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . Crops are usually available in June, July. Season is usually June 15 pm to July 15, please call ahead. This year we are growing pickling cucumbers and rhubarb.
Rhubarb
Rhubarb Picking Tips, Recipes and Information
Rhubarbis a cool weather crop, which appears in the late Spring. The stalks are theedible portion, never eaten raw (too acidic), but cooked and sweetened, theyhave a flavor much like strawberries.
The stalks that grow from energy stored in the roots the previousyear are the part that is harvested. After picking stalks for a fewweeks, the plants must be left for the rest of the growing season torecover and save energy for the next year.
Strawberries are usually ripe about the same time as rhubarb, andsince the two flavors compliment each other so well, many recipescombine them. One thing rhubarb does not like: prolonged periods ofhot, humid weather. It is really difficult to grow rhubarb inthe deep South (unless you plant it as an annual, planting new rootsearly each Spring).
Rhubarb Recipes, Canning and Freezing Rhubarb
- How to freeze Rhubarb!
- Rhubarb-strawberryjam!
- Easy Rhubarb-Strawberrypie
- Rhubarbcustard pie
- Rhubarb crisp
- Rhubarb festivals
Picking Rhubarb
Most people prefer smaller stems (12 inches to 18inches long. Thelarger, fatter stems can be tough and fibrous, which is worse duringsummer heat and drought.
Tips on How to Pick Rhubarb
- Pick only the best Rhubarb:Select firm stalks, nothing wilted.
- Grasp the stalk near the base of the plant
- Twist the the stalk in arotating motion gently, but firmly until you feel; the stalk separate. Or,if the farm prefers, cut the stalks an inch or two above the base.
- Do notremove more than one third of the leaves from a plant at one time.Immediately remove the poisonous leaves from the stalk, discard them in thewalkway.
Rhubarb Facts, Measurements and Tips
- Rhubarb is a fruit, not a vegetableAccording to a 1947 NY court!
- Rhubarb festivals: Most areas that grow rhubarb have aRhubarb festival, at which youcan taste all kinds of fresh Rhubarb foods, pies, jams, cakes - and mostcommonly, fresh Rhubarb shortcake. To find out where and when thereis one near you, see thispage for a list of Rhubarb festivals, sorted by state!
- Rhubarb measurements:
2 lbs. of chopped stalks isabout 4 cups. - The stalks are the only edible part of the plant; infact, the leaves of rhubarb are poisonous. The leavescontain the high concentrations of oxalic acid, which gives therhubarb it's astringent taste. So don't let your children orpets eat the leaves. I usually twist the leaves off thestalk and throw them on the ground to become mulch.
- One cup of Rhubarb contains only about 50 calories
- U-pick Rhubarb are much healthier than store-bought. Consumerreports says store bought Rhubarb have so many pesticide and fungicideresidues on they, that they don't recommend you eat them at all!
- Rhubarb has been used for thousands of years as a medicinal plant by theChinese.
- Want to grow your own Rhubarb? Here's an article about howto: Rhubarb is an Excellent Fruit for the Home Garden
- See this page for many more fun and interestingRhubarb facts, nutritional information and trivia
Before you leave to go to the farm:
- Always call before you go to the farm - Rhubarb are affected by weather(both rain and cooler temperature) more than most crops. And when they arein season, a large turnout can pick a field clean before noon, so CALLfirst!
- Leaveearly. On weekends, then fields may be picked clean by NOON!
- Some growers furnish picking containers designedfor Rhubarb, but they may charge you for them; be sure to call before you go to see if you need to bringcontainers.
Plastic dishpans make good containers. - Bring something to drink and a few snacks; you'd be surprised how you canwork up a thirst and appetite! And don't forget hats and sunscreen for thesun. Bugs usually aren't a problem, but some deet might be good to bringalong if it has been rainy.
When you get home
- Refrigerate, they will stay good for about a week or two, but the fresher,the better.
- Do not wash the stalks, just wrap in plastic wrap. .
- Freeze any that you do not plan to use within a week.It is easy to blanch and freezerhubarb. See this page.
Growing your own Rhubarb
- Before planting, eliminate all weeds, especial persistentinvasive weeds, like Bermuda grass, nutsedge, etc.
- Choose a site that is sunny, well-drained, with a looseloamy soil. Rhubarb does not like the shade nor sitting inwater.
- Plant rhubarb crowns in early spring as soon as the groundcan be worked.
- Some varieties of Rhubarb can be planted in the fall afterthey have gone dormant. (check with the nursery)
- Dig large holes and work in compost. Rhubarb plants areheavy feeders.
- Space rhubarb plants about 3 or 4 feet apart and plantthe crowns 1 to 2 inches below the surface of the soil.
- Mulch with a heavy layer of straw, compost and rotted manure
- Water and weed your plant well.
- Remove seed stalks as soon as they appear.
Rhubarb Varieties
There are two common types of rhubarb, those with bright redstalks (like Crimson Red) and those whose stalks are mostly green.They taste about the same, but most people prefer the red.
Iahve usuallybought my crowns from Indian Berry; I've found them to bereliable and provide large crowns. (I have no affiliation with them)
- Canada Red (extra sweet)
- Cherry Red (red inside and out)
- Crimson Red (slimmer diameter red stalks) (photo of plantabove right)
- MacDonald (tender skin; bright red)
- Ruby
- Valentine (good flavor)
- Victoria (green with red tint - see photo at right)
