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

03 Apr 16, Peta (Australia - temperate climate)
My rhubarb continues to produce only very thin stalks, I have mulched, fed, and deep watered but nothing seems to encourage thicker stalks. What could the problem be?
22 Apr 16, Tempest (Australia - temperate climate)
One of my rhubarb plants is the same. My mother said it was because the roots weren't thick/big enough yet. She reckoned with continued care (water, compost/chook manure, appropriate sunlight), the roots would grow and the stalks get thicker. She advised me not to take any of the slim stalks off because they were helping the rhubarb gather energy. I'm not yet at a point where I can tell you if it's worked, but thought I'd share what I've beenmtold anyway.
19 Mar 16, Olwen Berge (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
When should you stop feeding the rhubarb plants? When picking the stems, I was told to only take one quarter of the stems at a time, and have had a good continuous supply. Have 2 red stemmed plants and one with green stems, both taste the same!
06 Mar 16, Fred Brown (Australia - temperate climate)
my plant has died back in the 40 degree temperature what should I do, I have watered it but not over watered, should I just leave it until next season
22 Apr 16, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
As long as you've continued watering it, it should recover. We lost all our rhubarb stalks on young crowns in summer one year, but I can tell you that once the weather cooled, they happily tried again and now they're growing nicely.
28 Feb 16, Lucy T (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Can you grow rhubarb (roots) from a harvested stalk (which has been cut)?
22 Apr 16, Tempest (Australia - temperate climate)
Alas no. You need a rhubarb crown. Whilst you can grow rhubarb from seed, it's a bit more hit and miss in terms of colour and taste, and using a crown is much faster to establish.
15 Feb 16, Lee Patterson (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in Taree, New South Wales. It is quite hot during Summer and reasonably cold in Winter. When would be the best time for me to plant Rhubarb. Thanking you.
22 Apr 16, Tempest (Australia - temperate climate)
Rhubarb crowns are usually only available during winter - which more or less answers the question! I'm in Melbourne and last year was our coldest winter on record - I planted several newly purchased rhubarb crowns and they all did fine.
06 Mar 16, Morveen (Australia - temperate climate)
You can put the crown of rhubarb in anytime, make sure it's in the shade. I am in the Taree district and mine grows well. Mine loves dynamic lifter, and try not to pick too much off the first year.
Showing 271 - 280 of 472 comments

when is the picking season in south aust?

- barb

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