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 New Zealand - cool/mountain 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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20 Sep 14, Peter Dell (Australia - temperate climate)
Can you grow rhubarb in pots successfully
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10 Sep 14, rubie (Australia - temperate climate)
just dig in some compost and aged manure then plant the crown. It works well in this climate
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04 Sep 14, Susan Cooke (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I am in Canberra. As a child I ate stewed rhubarb, rhubarb and apple pie, fruit compote with rhubarb. I would like to grow it. How do I get started? Susan
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26 Aug 14, mary luscombe (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
What is needed to strengthen rhubarb shoots which have all gone spindly and weak
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30 Jul 14, Graham (Australia - temperate climate)
Can rhubarb be grown in shade?
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12 Aug 14, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
They like morning sun, but will grow ok in light shade. The best place is with morning sun and afternoon shade.
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26 Jul 14, norma (Australia - temperate climate)
what fertilizer do you recommend to keep the rhubarb red. I bought a plant that was red but it turned green
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17 Jun 14, Ruth (Australia - temperate climate)
The stems on our plants are very short and the leaves are huge, How can we correct this.
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15 Jun 14, david (Australia - temperate climate)
can you grow rhubarb in a garbage tin size pot?
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09 Jun 14, Tony (Australia - temperate climate)
I was given a couple of plants and am on sandy soil (like beach sand). I have had a great crop by using dynamic lifter in the hole and spread around the plant. BTW, I like the thicker stalks for flavour and textrure.
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Showing 501 - 510 of 635 comments
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you really are better off putting them in a raised garden bed with mixed clean top soil, lots of compost, peat moss, blood meal, and a slow release fertilizer. Rhubarb get very large and can live for many years and their root systems can get quite large, keeping them in pots will restrict their growth and you will have to water more often and continually use fertilizer more often then them being in the ground.

- Laura Ellington

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