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

09 Jan 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Maybe different varieties or one more mature than the other. Time will tell.
09 Jan 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You may have two different varieties or one is more mature than the other. Time will tell.
14 Dec 17, M Bray (Australia - temperate climate)
Could I plant rhubarb now & where can obtain estabilished crowns.
01 Jan 18, Tanya (Australia - temperate climate)
Any garden shops should have them, also supermarkets in their garden section sometimes have them. Or ebay sometimes have them. I brought good crowns from both ebay and from my local supermarket (look in the bulb area) only a month ago
15 Dec 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Bunnings at Maroochydore Qld had them last week when I was there - so phone your local Bunnings.
04 Dec 17, Manfred (Australia - temperate climate)
I have a rhubarb plant and the leaves are turning yellow and red, what is wrong here.
05 Dec 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Try and work out if you have the green leaf or the yellow leaf variety.
04 Dec 17, Geoff (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My rhubarb has been doing very well for a few years, just north of Sydney, in raised beds. I split them up last year and they have produced heaps of stems. In late November the leaves became dark and hard and crinkled - but stems look OK. I can't find any disease that would cause this. Is it disaster? I have kept water up to them, and the soil was well manured when I replanted them.
05 Dec 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Did you have any really hot dry days - like a dry hot NW wind. This could/would burn them.
20 Nov 17, barb (Australia - temperate climate)
My Sister always put a red jelly into rhubarb (once it was cooked) this provides sugar and colour but not used to set it.
Showing 141 - 150 of 472 comments

If you can plant them either in big pots or in dappled sun/part shade it may be helpful but I don't think shade cloth would help as much as drip irrigation may. Best of luck!

- Mindi

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