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 Jun 22, Deborah Winquest (USA - Zone 7b climate)
I live in south central Tennessee and want to grow rhubarb. Can I do so as a perennial or do I have to treat it as an annual? And where is the best place to plant the crowns?
02 Sep 22, Tiffles (USA - Zone 8a climate)
From what I read, give it a good spot for it to get sun during fall-spring and protect it from heat(shade it) during summer. It's delicate to heat. I'm going to try planting mine on north fence and then planting sunflowers for shade but giving it good ventilation in between. We made need shade cloth.
13 Jun 22, Catt Mandu (USA - Zone 8a climate)
I am growing Victoria rhubarb in three-gallon nursery pots in North Georgia. I started the plants (small roots) this spring in a sunny area during cool weather, but moved them into partial to full shade as the heat increased. The soil in the pots is a loamy sand mixed half and half with compost. I water daily, about a quart of water per plant. I top dress each pot with about a teaspoon of granular 13-13-13 fertilizer whenever I notice growth slowing down, roughly once a month.. So far, it has handled temperatures up to 95 F with no problems. My plants are huge, about 3.5 feet across with long thick stems. One thing I have noticed! is the stems are mostly green, not red, this could be due to the shade, or possibly heat. They still taste great in strawberry rhubarb pie, though I'm harvesting very little this first year, hoping for the plants being larger and stronger next year. As a precaution against disease, any leaves and stems that are starting to yellow with age I pull off of the plant and compost them.
15 May 22, (USA - Zone 8a climate)
What variety of rhubarb will grow in zone 8 or 9
06 Jun 22, Mindi (USA - Zone 8a climate)
We grow Glaskins Perpetual Rhubarb and Victoria and they both do very well here in Eastern NC.
05 May 22, Amathonn (USA - Zone 9a climate)
My Month by Month Florida Gardening book says you can grow rhubarb year-round in north Florida and August to October in central and south Florida. I’m guessing shade cloth would be in order for the latter two the rest of the year. I never cared much for it growing up in Iowa but I think I’ll give it a try at my little hobby farm near Arcadia, Fl just for the challenge of it.
06 Jun 22, Mindi (USA - Zone 8a climate)
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!
06 May 22, Anonymous (Australia - tropical climate)
The plants probably need more regular watering than shade cloth. Heavy shade cloth will reduce the available sunlight. By this guide not a lot of opportunity to grow it in zones 6a or 6b. I have absolutely no idea what your weather is like - I live in Australia.
20 Mar 22, Wayneman (USA - Zone 9a climate)
I live in zone 9a and have had success growing rhubarb. I have it in planter boxes and it seemed like it would not make the first summer but it is beautiful this spring. I keep in in partial shade during the summer.
31 Dec 22, Steven Walker (USA - Zone 9a climate)
What kind of rhubarb did you purchase? What special precautions did you take to grow rhubarb?
Showing 21 - 30 of 60 comments

If unhealthy pull them off. Look up a natural spray for leafy veggies.

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