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 41°F and 68°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 35 inches 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

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08 Jun 21, Shandi Paul (Canada - Zone 2a Sub-Arctic climate)
How do I get my rhubarb plant back to life
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30 May 21, (Canada - Zone 2a Sub-Arctic climate)
When is rhubarb ready for harvesting?
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29 Jun 21, (Canada - Zone 5a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
When the stalks are a good size.
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18 May 21, LORI (USA - Zone 9a climate)
Can I grow rhubarb in zone 9A?
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16 Sep 21, John Mitchell (USA - Zone 10a climate)
No it will not I have tried a couple times. Its to hot in the summer sorry.
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04 May 21, Jen (Canada - Zone 5a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
can you compost the toxic parts of the plant for use in other parts of garden?
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06 May 21, Anonymous (Canada - zone 4a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
Probably ok to compost.
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02 May 21, Trish I. (USA - Zone 7b climate)
We have very recently (April) moved some rhubarb plants that originated from my FIL's family homestead many years ago, from Denver CO to SC. I desperately want to keep these alive, mostly for my husband. Any advice? Our ground is hard as a rock in most spots and has a lot of clay, so figured I need to keep them in pots. How big of a pot do I need, should I be sure to put them on the side of the house where there's mostly only morning sun, in order to continue the "family line", should I try and gather seeds from the plant for the following year? Thanks!
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06 May 21, Laura Ellington (USA - Zone 8a climate)
you really are better off putting them in a raised garden bed with mixed clean top soil, lots of compost, peat moss, blood meal, and a slow release fertilizer. Rhubarb get very large and can live for many years and their root systems can get quite large, keeping them in pots will restrict their growth and you will have to water more often and continually use fertilizer more often then them being in the ground.
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12 Jan 22, Liz O'Sullivan (USA - Zone 6b climate)
I just ordered rhubarb crowns and plan on planting in a raised bed. My concern is that the roots will be harmed in my 6b zone winter given they are in a raised bed. What do you recommend?
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Give them time - also there is a red and a green variety. Check which one you have, if you can by googling.

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