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

10 Apr 14, jan (Australia - temperate climate)
I have brought 3 & they have all died??
13 Mar 14, Louise (Australia - temperate climate)
I am leaving for the winter(live coastal Tassie). Do I need to do anything to my healthy rhubarb before I leave later this month?
07 Mar 14, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
This morning I found all the stema of one plant limp and lying on the soil and the leaves, were discoloured and looking sick. I have 2 other crowns in the same area and despite applying liquid fertilisers and solid manures they have not produced any significant growth. There is a fig tree about 2 metre away.
24 Mar 14, Charlie (Australia - temperate climate)
I have 6 plants in a very similar condition & treated them similarly to you. They used to grow quite strongly in the past. I have today dug them up to plant in another part of the garden. This will be just trial & error at this stage. Will be interesting to see if it makes any difference. One thing I did find when digging the area was 4 curl grubs, but I don't think there were enough to cause the problem?
26 Apr 14, Newcomer (Australia - temperate climate)
"Be sure to mix compost, rotted manure, or anything high in organic matter in the soil. Rhubarb plants are heavy feeders and need this organic matter. Don't add a chemical fertilizer when planting rhubarb or during the first year of growth. Direct contact with nitrates can kill your rhubarb plants." (source: almanac.com/plant/rhubarb)
03 Mar 14, Deb Hallam (Australia - temperate climate)
I cook Rhubarb with a banana sometimes counteracts the tartness and lessens the need to add sugar. .
23 Jan 14, robin (Australia - temperate climate)
try cooking rhubarb with golden syrup and a bit of vanilla essence and of course some sugar but no where near as much if cooked without golden syrup. it takes the bite out.
12 Jan 14, Deb (Australia - temperate climate)
I planted 2 rhubarb crowns, 1 died and the other has grown well but the stalks are still green while the leaves are now dying. Can you pick and eat the green stalks before the whole thing dies.
19 Jan 14, Cynthia (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
The variety of yr rhubarb will dictate that. Some produce stems that remain green in colour ie do not turn red. Check your variety for its characteristics.
25 Dec 13, john r.wilson (Australia - temperate climate)
i have 4 plants they were planted [crowns]in september one has withered up one is starting to wither one is reasonable and the other is going from strength to strength they were all planted at the same time about 1 meter apart in the same bed our soil is quite sandy with plenty of organic fertilizer and is well mulched it is watered only with rain water from tanks.what am i doing wrong.
Showing 371 - 380 of 472 comments

Please note the question was about QLD, not USA..(Sept is spring here) I'm going to give it a go about now 'ish' and hope it enjoys winter in Hervey Bay.

- glenn

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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.
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