Your comments and tips

29 Dec 16, Sue Burns (Australia - temperate climate)

I have a very small rhubarb growing in a small pot. When can I plant it out into a large tub? It is now summer in Melbourne.

Reply or Post a new comment

24 Dec 16, Lorrainr (Australia - temperate climate)

Does the crown need to be kept covered?

Reply or Post a new comment

26 Dec 16, John (Australia - temperate climate)

Rhubarb likes plenty of moisture. Covering up to the neck of the crown with soil or mulch would be beneficial. Trust this helps.

Reply or Post a new comment

15 Dec 16, Carol (Australia - temperate climate)

My rhubarb is young only 6 months and they are in plastic pots with lids under the pots. Is this ideal or should I remove them as I water daily as we have extreme heat in Perth, They are under a shaded area I have built so not in direct sun

Reply or Post a new comment

20 Dec 16, John (Australia - temperate climate)

It is really better to grow rhubarb in the ground as you don't want the roots to 'cook'. If the tub is large and not exposed to direct heat it should grow OK. When potting up any vegetable in tubs it is a good idea to line the bottom of the tub with nespaper, old jeans or other cotton clothing. Baby nappies with the elastic, etc trimmed off are also ideal as the crystals will hold a lot of water as a reservoir for your plants. Rhubarb likes a lot of manure so a generous amount of pelletised organic fertiliser, cow manure or blood and bone is beneficial. Mulch the plants with lawn clippings or something similar as this will help retain moisture. trust this helps.

Reply or Post a new comment

14 Dec 16, Rod Rix (Australia - temperate climate)

When is the rhubarb ripe for harvesting--- Is it when the whole stalk is red OR only partially red?

Reply or Post a new comment

20 Dec 16, Nola (Australia - temperate climate)

There are both red and green stemmed rhubarb plants. The green stems will always be green and taste just as good. My red rhubarb stems are red from the beginning so harvesting is just a matter of pulling the stem off when I want to use it. Sometimes the stems are thin, but during mid to late spring are usually thicker. The plants are gross feeders so keep the compost up to them and water well in summer. I chop the leaves from the stems and leave them around the base of the plant.

Reply or Post a new comment

12 Dec 16, Margaret (Australia - temperate climate)

We have a very old healthy rhubarb plant in a pot. Very prolific but for the last year it has only thin stalks. The stalks used to be much thicker. Can I do anything to make the stalks thicker? Still delicious thoug.

Reply or Post a new comment

13 Dec 16, John (Australia - temperate climate)

Rhubarb likes plenty of manure/compost as well as water. Dig out some of the soil with a trowel and add blood & bone, pelletised manure, etc. this should help to give it a push along. Plants growing in pots are entirely dependant on what we provide for them so adding some extra nutrients will help. Make this one of your winter jobs when the plants are more or less dormant and you can divide the plants, if needed, at the same time. Rhubarb is a very productive plant and if you sweeten it to taste with stevia (a natural non calorie sweetener) after it is cooked you get all the flavour minus the calories. Trust this helps.

Reply or Post a new comment

09 Dec 16, Kay (Australia - temperate climate)

Our rhubarb plants are now quite large but the stems are still green. Are they to picked when red?

Reply or Post a new comment