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

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13 Dec 15, Penny Pritchard (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
The whole plant appears to be dieing can you give any reason why? Many thanks
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08 Dec 15, Jo (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Boiling rhubarb is an excellent way of cleaning a saucepan with absolutely no effort
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18 Nov 15, Ruth (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Annette, there are various rhubarb varieties, some have green, some red stalks, the red ones tend not to be so sour! happy gardening
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17 Nov 15, Annette Jackson (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Am growing rhubarb in Johannesburg in a sunny. Position is that why it has green stalks
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16 Nov 15, Cas Allan (Australia - temperate climate)
Gordon Staples, I asked the same question about some of my rhubarb not turning red. Tonight I cooked some of the green stems and they taste the same as the red ones. Yes, you can eat the green ones.
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07 Nov 15, Michelle carbine (Australia - temperate climate)
When you buy a rhubarb crown does the entire thing have to be under the soil and how long after planting before signs of growth should be noticed?
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01 Nov 15, Geoff Gabbott (Australia - temperate climate)
Q- Bug Problem I have found bugs having a feast on my plants Have an oval body , legs, antenna- etc size- approx 10/20 mm long - colour mainly black with yellow patches on back - one was 20mm + - can climb metal fences- even after hose down of metal fence they climb again . some have various colours - say "dull grey" but most have distinctive yellow backs Can you identify ? - also pest control advice will be appreciated - I live in Canberra Thanks Geoff
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18 Nov 15, Ruth (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi Geoff, I had that problem last year, might be Rutherglen bugs? https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/mycrop/diagnosing-rutherglen-bug hope this helps, happy gardening
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14 Oct 15, John Madden (Australia - temperate climate)
What do you do when plants produce a seed head?
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10 Sep 15, Terry Fitzgerald (Australia - temperate climate)
Will rubarb grow at coffs harbour and how well
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Showing 441 - 450 of 639 comments
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I am from East Washington but moved to Texas. Rhubarb is one of my favorite things and when I was growing up in my Washington hometown, my grandma had a huge, really old rhubarb plant that had been producing stalks since before I was born. And I would just pull a stalk out of the ground, wash off with her hose, and snack on whenever I felt like it. Well, I married a military man, and he got stationed in San Antonio and then he got offered a civilian job here, so we are now here to stay. I would really like to grow rhubarb in my garden, especially because I can't even find it here in the store (and the only two times I have found it fresh in the store, the cashiers didn't even know what it was. I kid you not. That's how rare rhubarb is here, so uncommon that the locals don't even know what it looks like as a fresh vegetable). Anyway, does anyone know how I might grow rhubarb here in my new climate? I really miss it. Thanks!

- Washingtonian in Texas

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