Growing Rhubarb

Rheum rhabarbarum : Polygonaceae / the dock family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
                P P    

(Best months for growing Rhubarb in Australia - temperate 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 5°C and 20°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 90 cm 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 Nov 16, Di Kealy (Australia - temperate climate)
Our pet sheep has just demolished our rhubarb plant, leaves and all, with no side effects (for the sheep!). Part of the crown is still above ground, will it come back again? Thanks
16 Nov 16, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Hello Di, Providing there is still a bud on the root crown it will recover. At this time of the year add a bit of manure and mulch and keep it moist to give it a chance.
16 Nov 16, John (Australia - temperate climate)
our chooks and turkeys regularly cleane up the rhubarb if they got a chance. Maybe the oxalic acid doesn't affect birds them.
05 Nov 16, Lorraine (Australia - temperate climate)
Can I transplant rhubarb in November in Adelaide. Is is possible to transplant all the rhubarb plants as they are growing and not divide them. Thank you for your comments.
16 Nov 16, John (Australia - temperate climate)
I have moved rhubarb at many different times of the year. I remove nearly all of the leaves and watered it well after transplanting. it recovered fairly quickly. Winter is the ideal time.
31 Oct 16, Gary (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi, I live in Brisbane Australia and my rhubarb is in its first year of planting and is doing quiet well, do I let the stalks and leaves on the first year and then just drop off or do I pick them off Thanks Gary
17 Nov 16, John Mauger (Australia - temperate climate)
The leaves on rhubarb, asparagus, etc., are building up the crowns. If your soil is well fed and there are plenty of stalks. taking a few shouldn't hurt. You will need to hold the plant at the base as you harvest so as not to pull the plant out or damage the root system which is soft and spongy
17 Oct 16, Monica McDougall (Australia - temperate climate)
My leaves are going yellow, query cause? Also what ferterliser do you give the plant?
27 Oct 16, Tempest (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Monica, Given you're in an Australian temperate climate, I'm guessing you've had the same cold wet weather as the rest of us. I believe it's the cold temperatures that are causing the leaves to go yellow. Just pull off the yellow leaves and let the plant put its energy into new leaf stalks. Any fertiliser that is high in nitrogen is fine. I like to use well-rotted chicken manure, Rooster Booster (pelletised chicken manure) or even dynamic lifter. But even compost is just as fine to use. Nitrogen is what encourages leafy growth, so it's perfect for rhubarbs as it's the leaf stalks we want. I've read that it's nearly impossible to overfeed a rhubarb, as they are quite heavy feeders.
13 Oct 16, Marie (Australia - tropical climate)
I live in Brisbane an have tried several spots in my small garden to grow Rhurarb. What can I put in an around my plants to give them a good start.
Showing 231 - 240 of 472 comments

I have brought 3 & they have all died??

- jan

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