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

19 Sep 15, Joanna (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
It grows very well in Bellingen area - someone gave me a few old crowns and I have never looked back
06 Sep 15, gordon staples (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
rhubarb plant is approx 3months old , huge stems half a metre high large leaves but still green,how long before it colors?
07 Dec 15, Bruce Dobbie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Rhubarb grows well here in Northern Rivers of NSW. The leaves do not colour and they should be ignored anyway. It is the leaf stalk which you are after.
25 Oct 15, Jenny (Australia - temperate climate)
Some varietes do not turn red. Perhaps when cooking add several drops of red food colouring.
02 Sep 15, mary coleman (Australia - temperate climate)
i live in the illawarra soil is clay can i grow rhubarb in pots or how do you force it thank you
13 Oct 15, Genevieve (Australia - temperate climate)
Have grown rhubarb in a large pot with lots of manure and blood and bone added. Water pretty much everyday in the hot weather as it likes a bit of moisture. Added fine coir to my soil in the pot for water retention. Pretty much can stay in the pot for a year but this depends on big your plant is. I pull the large stalks for cooking which encourages the plant to put out more. Best of luck.
25 Aug 15, (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I've just bought a plant from the nursery at Virgina Circle opp Checkers can't remember their name now.
08 Aug 15, anna (Australia - temperate climate)
I keep the liquid to a minimum when cooking rhuburb (chopped into 2 inch long lengths)and stay in the kitchen so i can check it regularly. Nothing worse than overcooked mushy rhubarb. For those watching weight I have cooked it in low calorie lemonade. Once cooked then remove from hotplate and dissolve a small amount of gelatine into liquid. Not enough for it to set the liquid. But just enough for the remaining pink liquid to look the consistency of a syrup
27 Jun 15, michael mitchell (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
i have bought 5 rhubarb plants recently and I am wondering should I plant them we are probably in for more heavy frosts. These frosts have already damaged some of my succulents and I have had to put these plants under cover to protect them. Thanks for any advice.
05 Jul 15, Ken (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi, I planted Rhubarb (3 plants) a few months ago and they are doing well and growing albeit a bit slow at the moment. We have had frosts down to -5 recently and it has not effected them Ken
Showing 451 - 460 of 638 comments

Give them time - also there is a red and a green variety. Check which one you have, if you can by googling.

- Anonymous

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

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.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.