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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11 Feb 16, Val Burns (Australia - temperate climate)
I use horse manure and its fine some people poo poo it but we have plenty so that's what we use, not fresh aged is best.
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18 Jan 16, Stuart Carlin (Australia - temperate climate)
Used to grow around hen run in NZ but when in Victoria all Rhubarb got eaten by earwigs then in SW WA got eaten by slaters.
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09 Jan 16, Jan Eigenhuis (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
Bought a few small rhubarb plants from Montana Nelspruit nursery a couple of months ago. Plants are struggling to survive in our high compost vegetable box. Too much sun? Temperatures too high? HELP!
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17 Mar 16, Bee-Pie (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Yes. Rhubarb is a cold climate loving plant. Everybody in my village lost theirs during this drought. Mine are thriving as I've planted in the cold shady corner of of our garage. :-)
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10 Jan 16, Gaby (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Rhubarb loves water and manure. In summer it can go a bit dormant if it is under watered. Try using some seaweed based liquid feed once a week until the plant settles in.
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28 Dec 15, (Australia - temperate climate)
My sister in Whangarei New Zealand has great Rhubarb in her garden. She uses a split peice of pvc pipe around the stalks to make them grow longer. About 30 cms or more long.
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26 Dec 15, James (Australia - tropical climate)
What would be the best rhubarb to grow in Townsville? as it is not a cool climate and can get very hot. Would I be able to buy plants up here I have looked around but have not seen any.
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11 Jun 18, Debra Farrell (Australia - tropical climate)
what rhubarb is suitable to grow in Townsville
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22 Apr 16, Tempest (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Apparently this is an old Queensland variety: https://www.diggers.com.au/shop/vegetables/rhubarb/rhubarb-mount-tamborine/prhmt/ Not sure if the climate is the same as Townsville, but might be worth a try?
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18 Dec 15, Bev OMullane (Australia - temperate climate)
My sister gave me some stalks of her rhubarb, which is green and she doesn't like it. I cooked it and put red food colouring in it. Looks like red rhubarb, same taste. I didn't know that there were two types of rhubarb, red and green. Where does the green variety come from?
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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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