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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26 Dec 17, Astrid (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I saw some recently at Colourful Splendour Nursery in the Craighall Park area. It was the “Victoria” variety. Any Garden Shop should also be able to source for you - they get their stock from Doonholm nursery under the brand Healthy Living Herbs.
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14 Dec 17, M Bray (Australia - temperate climate)
Could I plant rhubarb now & where can obtain estabilished crowns.
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01 Jan 18, Tanya (Australia - temperate climate)
Any garden shops should have them, also supermarkets in their garden section sometimes have them. Or ebay sometimes have them. I brought good crowns from both ebay and from my local supermarket (look in the bulb area) only a month ago
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15 Dec 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Bunnings at Maroochydore Qld had them last week when I was there - so phone your local Bunnings.
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04 Dec 17, Manfred (Australia - temperate climate)
I have a rhubarb plant and the leaves are turning yellow and red, what is wrong here.
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05 Dec 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Try and work out if you have the green leaf or the yellow leaf variety.
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04 Dec 17, Geoff (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My rhubarb has been doing very well for a few years, just north of Sydney, in raised beds. I split them up last year and they have produced heaps of stems. In late November the leaves became dark and hard and crinkled - but stems look OK. I can't find any disease that would cause this. Is it disaster? I have kept water up to them, and the soil was well manured when I replanted them.
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05 Dec 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Did you have any really hot dry days - like a dry hot NW wind. This could/would burn them.
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28 Nov 17, Sandy (USA - Zone 8b climate)
I got a clump of rhubarb from my sister this summer. I have a brick planter in the front yard that had some room, so I planted it there, beside an artichoke plant. Gave it a good dose of vitamin B1, kept it well watered and it has been doing very well, looking very healthy, and, all of a sudden, it turned yellow. It started turning yellow in October. Could it be, it needs more water (I haven't been watering it much, now that it is looking so good)? Could it be the frost (we have had a few frosty mornings. Just in case it's the frost, I've been covering it at night. Thank you for any insight that can be offered.
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26 Feb 21, Carol Nevius Jones (USA - Zone 9b climate)
Rhubarb goes dormant in winter and regrow in Spring. Yellowing after a frost is normal.
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Showing 261 - 270 of 635 comments
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I had the same problem with my rhubarb. It never thrived. For 3 years, it was in a spot that received western sun and full shade in winter. The soil wad always dry, and I had to keep the water up. I moved it into a north east facing raised bed full of rich soil and mulched thickly. Did this about 6 weeks ago, and it has already doubled in size. The leaves are bigger, greener and lush. The stalks are also thick and crisp! We're coming into winter now, so your rhubarb might take a little longer to recover. Give it a good drink of seaweed at transplant. I also soak my mulch in seaweed solution before mulching. As for the holes in the leaves, that will probably be from a grub. Inspect your plant and its root ball before transplanting, so you don't bring the little muncher over too! Sometimes grubs hide in the ground. Good luck!

- Claudia

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