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 7a 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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12 Apr 13, shirley (Australia - temperate climate)
our rhubarb develops yellow spots which get bigger then the stems become soft and useless. it is in full sun and this has been a pretty warm year.
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11 Aug 13, Lorraine Phillips (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
That sounds yummy, must try it..
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16 Jul 10, Leah (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Where can you buy rhubarb?
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24 Jul 10, les (Australia - temperate climate)
try the "diggers club" i brought one last year and is going great , just starting to flower
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25 Jul 10, Steve (Australia - temperate climate)
I planted rhubarb in mid june, but the stems have all died off. Will it sprout again in autumn/summer?
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09 Nov 10, Suz (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I planted several rhubarb crowns a few months ago and they have grown rapidly. They are still mostly green although the base of the stems are red but they are very high. When should I harvest them?
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22 Mar 11, Lesley (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi, I am concerned that my rhubarb is very prolific (leaves and stalks) however it has not turned red - it remains green. The name on it is "rhubarb - tasmanian grown". Looking forward to hearing from someone. Thx....Lesley
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24 Mar 11, Stewart (Australia - arid climate)
Hi Lesley, It is probably a green rhubarb, I have one and it is lovely to eat but doesn't turn red. If you prefer red rhubarb you need to purchase a red rhubarb comb. Cheers, Stewart.
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28 Mar 15, alan leach (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Rhubarb will grow all the year round? ex farmworker from the early 50s in UK. Would like someone to put me in touch with Jerrod Nichols or Rod Harker of Tasmania, Rhubarb growers.
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05 Oct 11, linda (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
I have a rhubarb plant that is a year old and I see it has stalks that look like they have seeded. Do I just cut these out and will the plants keep doing this. This is my first go with rhubarb. Thanks Linda
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Showing 11 - 20 of 629 comments
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Manures generally have little NPK. When you put these or other mulches in the soil, they grab all the N to break the manure down, therefore the plant has little access to N and don't grow much. In future put the manure in a pile and wet it and turn it over regularly to break it down to compost before putting it on the garden. When applying mulch over put it on about 50mm thick. Mulch 200mm thick will take a long time for water to pernitrate through to the soil.

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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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