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

25 Jul 13, Ann lee (Australia - temperate climate)
How do you prevent rhubarb going to seed
12 Jul 13, (Australia - temperate climate)
what can be added to rhubarb when cooking to neutralize the acid
20 Oct 13, Robert McCudden (Australia - temperate climate)
I add Arrowroot (Tapioca Flour) to the warm cooked rhubarb. Dissolve half a teaspoon, depending on amount cooked, in the juice of the cooked rhubarb. When dissolved stir into the rhubarb. Works a treat.
04 Aug 13, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
STRAWBERRIES GO REALLY WELL WITH RHUBARB. MAKES GOOD JAM LIKE THIS AS WELL, AS IT SETS BETTER WITH THE STRAWBERRIES IN IT.
23 Jun 13, Helen Simmons (Australia - temperate climate)
The outer leaves of my rhubarb keep falling to the ground and eventually die off. Is this normal, is there anything I can o to rectify this problem?
23 Jun 13, Jill Selwood (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
My rhubarb has very large leaves and very short stems. How do I get it growing the other way round?
04 Sep 18, Heather Auckram (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
It could be the variety. I grow rhubarb in Southland, where we get winter snows. The variety I grow is Cardinal Crunch. It has short fat stems, rich red in colour and big leaves.
08 Sep 13, Colleen S. Johnson (New Zealand - temperate climate)
You don't. Rhubarb can vary greatly from the parent plant if grown from seed. Best to get a division from a plant with the characteristics you want.
08 Jun 13, Pamela (Australia - temperate climate)
Our new rhubarb plants have been growing well, BUT now some of the leaves are starting to yellow. What should we do to rectify this?. They are in soil with organic loam and horse manure mixture.
13 Jun 13, Gene (Australia - temperate climate)
Mine do the same thing this time of the year. I've had them for about four years now and they start to look very sad when the cold weather comes. When it warms up (September) you will start to see some more positive activity. Don't forget they are very hungry plants, so plenty of fertilizer every couple of weeks in spring time will help.
Showing 551 - 560 of 635 comments

That sounds yummy, must try it..

- Lorraine Phillips

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.