Rhubarb and Ribes: Profitable and Hardy Crops for Growers

Rhubarb 

Rhubarb is popular with consumers for baking because of its tart stalks, but it has several additional uses. It is great for pie fillings, crisps, sauces, juice, or wine. Rhubarb will preserve and freeze easily, so it can be enjoyed far past the fresh rhubarb season. Scientists and health professionals have recently begun looking into various health benefits of rhubarb for medical use, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antifibrotic properties and gastrointestinal function regulation.  

Prices averaging in the $4–$5 per pound range make rhubarb a profitable companion crop with strawberries and asparagus. 

Culture 

• Well-drained soil, high in organic matter, is ideal.  
• Soil pH of 6.0 – 6.8. 
• Spacing of three feet (3’)within row; five to six feet (5–6’) between rows. 
• Rhubarb benefits from annual applications of Nitrogen up to 150 pounds per acre.  Applications are split into three (3) side dressings: before growth starts in spring, after growth starts and after harvest.   
• Suited for zones 4 – 7. 

Harvest 

Allow rhubarb to establish for 3 years prior to harvest, developing 2-foot diameter crowns.  We recommend leaving 25–30% for healthy regrowth. A good rule of thumb is to end harvest when new stalks emerge thin or spindly. The only edible portion of rhubarb is the stalks. Leaves are poisonous and should be removed at harvest and discarded. 

Pests and Diseases 

Rhubarb is not immune to pests and disease. Slugs, leafhoppers and Rhubarb Curculio need to be controlled early. Leaf spots, Ramularia and Ascochyta are also preventable with early intervention. The prevalence of Phytophthora justifies preventative control in fall and spring, particularly on heavier soils. Contact Nourse Farms or your local cooperative extension of recommended materials. 

Rhubarb Varieties 

MacDonald Strain 

We selected MacDonald Strain rhubarb for its excellent production.  This very vigorous, upright-growing strain produces large, tender stalks and has an acceptable red color.  Shows resistance to root-rot problems. 

Cawood Delight 

Although Cawood Delight isn’t as vigorous as MacDonald, it stands out with its deeper red color making it an attractive and marketable option.  Its stout growth habit thrives in northern regions, though it may struggle in areas with prolonged periods of high heat. 

Ribes: Currants & Gooseberries 

With rising consumer interest in healthy, locally sourced foods, gooseberries and currants are gaining popularity as potential new fruit crops. Both fruits are rich in vitamins and antioxidants, making them highly valued for their nutritional benefits and versatility. In North America, currants are often used for making tangy jellies, relishes, and juices, while gooseberries are a common ingredient in jams, jellies, pastries, and compotes. Some gooseberries, when ripened on the bush, become so sweet that they can be enjoyed fresh, right off the plant. 

At Nourse Farms, we not only sell the currants and gooseberries to specialty stores but also through our retail stand. Prices average $5.75 per half pint. 

Culture  

• Sunny location but avoid southern exposure and southern-facing slopes since intense sun may injure plants. 
• Spacing of three to four feet (3–4’) in rows, six to eight feet (6–8’) between rows.
• Suited for zones 3–7. 
• The currant and gooseberry varieties carried by Nourse Farms have been bred for tolerance to White Pine Blister Rust disease.  Check with local cooperative extension office or Department of Agriculture for any restrictions on growing Ribes in your area.   

Currant Varieties 

Pink Champagne  

This is the tastiest currant on the market for fresh eating! Pink Champagne is a vigorous, upright bush, free of leaf diseases, with a beautiful translucent pink fruit. Easy to grow, Pink Champagne produces fruit of high quality and good flavor.  

Jonkheer van Tets  

This early red currant variety is known for its highly rated flavor and fruit size. Jonkheer van Tets will outperform other early varieties. Being early, it may be susceptible to late frosts, so site selection is important. In Massachusetts, it matures in early July. Special pruning may also be necessary. The erect bush is easy to pick and has mildew resistance.  

Rovada  

Rovada is a red currant with very large fruit on extremely long strigs, producing a heavy crop that is easy to pick. The plant is very free of mildew and other leaf diseases. Its late flowering escapes frost. Rovada’s dependable nature makes it the #1 red currant around the world!  

Gooseberry Varieties 

Hinnomaki Red  

Hinnomaki Red is a variety with superb flavor, high yields, and a beautiful red fruit color. The outer skin is tangy while the flesh is sweet. The plants grow upright and are mildew resistant. These very productive plants are adaptable to various growing systems, hedge or ornamental. The sweet berries can be eaten fresh or baked in a pie.  

Invicta  

Destined to become the standard for green gooseberries, Invicta has the highest yields of large, high-quality fruit of any gooseberry variety and is resistant to mildew and late spring frosts. The bush is vigorous and spreading. We advise trellising this variety because of its spines. Regular dormant season pruning will encourage the best production.  

Tixia®*   (Variety - Rafzicta)
Canadian Plant Breeders Rights Certification #3348     

Tixia®, introduced in our 2005 catalog, produces large, beautiful, bright-red fruit similar in size to Invicta. In addition to its attractive fruit, it is distinguished by its semi-thornless shoots and upright growth habit. Its growth is medium to strong.  

We have an excellent supply of rhubarb divisions and ribes plug plants available for spring planting! Place your order at NourseFarms.com or call us at 1-877-NFBERRY.

This article is a part of Nourse Farms' Spring 2025 Commercial Growers Newsletter. View the whole newsletter by clicking here.