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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12 Aug 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Read the notes above. In warm areas grow it in shady areas and plant 100mm or 4" deep in Sept.
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10 Aug 17, Patty douglas (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
What position and planting advice for Kloof Kzn South Africa for Rhubarb seadlings
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03 Aug 17, Julie Campbell (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi ihave a rubbarb plant from a nursery year before last. I'm growing it in a pot semi shade. It doesn't seem to flourish. It usually has 3-5 stalks on it at one time it made it to 10-ia athought i was soon to have a rubbarb pie BUT it is down to one sad wilting stalk-help. What's wrong with it?
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03 Aug 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Are you giving it enough area to grow in - as in nutrients from the soil. You may need a far bigger pot. A regular fertilizing - like each couple of months might help. Any chance of putting it in the ground. Maybe plant a few more. Growing in pots requires a lot more care and attention than in the ground.
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15 Jul 17, Jan Quirk (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
A friend gave me a healthy looking bunch of rhubarb with leaves intact. I have heard that it is not good to eat the stems if they have had frost on them as the toxin is forced down the stalk from the leaf, is this true? Thank you
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19 Jul 17, (Australia - temperate climate)
never heard of this before only leaves are poisonous
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11 Jul 17, Carole Leonard (Australia - temperate climate)
Can l grow rhubarb in a pot ? If so what is the best way to go about it?
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23 Jul 17, Jasmine (Australia - temperate climate)
I have had good success growing rhubarb in wicker bed pots (they are like a big self watering pot). I kept 2 plants in regular pots and they barely survived, but my plants in the wicker pots thrived. Google wicker pots if you haven't heard of them and there is plenty of good info on how to make them
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15 Jul 17, Sam (Australia - tropical climate)
Not recommended for pots. I tried over the years in Adelaide and had the most success in the ground.
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14 Jul 17, John (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Rhubarb like lots of manure, a good water supply and cool roots. If you can provide this in a large tub there is no reason why not
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Showing 291 - 300 of 639 comments
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Hi, I'm no expert but this my experience with Rhubarb. I'm in Canberra and we have cold winters, minus temps, with hot to very hot summers, mid 20s to mid 30s. Rhubarb stalks, depending on the variety, range from greenish/pinkish ting right through to a beautiful crimson. Your plants may just be the variety that never really goes red. My rhubarb stalks are a very light red with green. Harvest time is usually spring to early summer. In really hot summers my plants just wilt and sulk and never really do anything till next spring. In fact some summers the plants die back and I'm sure I've killed them, but up they come in spring. They also like a shed load of organic material in the soil. They are what is known as gross feaders. Your soil may just be too free draining and the water is washing the nutrients away. They also do not like to be water logged. Hope that helps Cheers Alison

- Alison

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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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