Growing Rhubarb

Rheum rhabarbarum : Polygonaceae / the dock family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
      P                

(Best months for growing Rhubarb in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • P = Plant crowns
  • Easy to grow. Plant pieces of rhizome or roots 8 - 10 cm (3 - 4 in.) deep. Best planted at soil temperatures between 5°C and 20°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 90 cm apart
  • Harvest in approximately 1 years. You will have a stronger plant if you leave it for about a year before using..
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Brassicas (Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower, etc)

Your comments and tips

06 Sep 15, gordon staples (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
rhubarb plant is approx 3months old , huge stems half a metre high large leaves but still green,how long before it colors?
07 Dec 15, Bruce Dobbie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Rhubarb grows well here in Northern Rivers of NSW. The leaves do not colour and they should be ignored anyway. It is the leaf stalk which you are after.
25 Oct 15, Jenny (Australia - temperate climate)
Some varietes do not turn red. Perhaps when cooking add several drops of red food colouring.
02 Sep 15, mary coleman (Australia - temperate climate)
i live in the illawarra soil is clay can i grow rhubarb in pots or how do you force it thank you
13 Oct 15, Genevieve (Australia - temperate climate)
Have grown rhubarb in a large pot with lots of manure and blood and bone added. Water pretty much everyday in the hot weather as it likes a bit of moisture. Added fine coir to my soil in the pot for water retention. Pretty much can stay in the pot for a year but this depends on big your plant is. I pull the large stalks for cooking which encourages the plant to put out more. Best of luck.
25 Aug 15, (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I've just bought a plant from the nursery at Virgina Circle opp Checkers can't remember their name now.
08 Aug 15, anna (Australia - temperate climate)
I keep the liquid to a minimum when cooking rhuburb (chopped into 2 inch long lengths)and stay in the kitchen so i can check it regularly. Nothing worse than overcooked mushy rhubarb. For those watching weight I have cooked it in low calorie lemonade. Once cooked then remove from hotplate and dissolve a small amount of gelatine into liquid. Not enough for it to set the liquid. But just enough for the remaining pink liquid to look the consistency of a syrup
27 Jun 15, michael mitchell (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
i have bought 5 rhubarb plants recently and I am wondering should I plant them we are probably in for more heavy frosts. These frosts have already damaged some of my succulents and I have had to put these plants under cover to protect them. Thanks for any advice.
05 Jul 15, Ken (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi, I planted Rhubarb (3 plants) a few months ago and they are doing well and growing albeit a bit slow at the moment. We have had frosts down to -5 recently and it has not effected them Ken
22 Aug 15, Carol (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hello Did you cover the rhurbarb? Regards Carol
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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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