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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13 Jun 13, Gene (Australia - temperate climate)
Mine do the same thing this time of the year. I've had them for about four years now and they start to look very sad when the cold weather comes. When it warms up (September) you will start to see some more positive activity. Don't forget they are very hungry plants, so plenty of fertilizer every couple of weeks in spring time will help.
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12 May 13, peter (Australia - temperate climate)
can I divide and replant rhubarb in May
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13 Apr 13, Caterine Burns (Australia - temperate climate)
The stalks keep falling down flat,do I need to hold them up with anything? they were only planted 12 months ago,I have four surviving plants out of thirty.I'm in Perth W.A.
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26 Mar 13, erin tAYLOR (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
where can i buy a plant, i live in condamine queensland
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23 Mar 13, bob wright (Australia - temperate climate)
when is the time for me to put manure on my plant
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28 Apr 13, heather clark (Australia - temperate climate)
I was told to use a nitrogen rich fertilizer every six weeks
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10 Mar 13, Margaret Goldie (Australia - temperate climate)
I have same problem as a few others the stems on the Rhubarb plant are green what can I you do?
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01 Jun 13, (Australia - temperate climate)
Margret If the stems on your Rubarb plants are green and you profer them red, I would suggest that you change varieties. Denis
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15 Mar 13, B (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
If your plant is green, it is probably the green variety. Nothing to worry about. Just cook it and eat it!
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21 Feb 13, Bill (Australia - temperate climate)
We have just moved in to our new home. Made a lovely vegie garden,put in good soil mixed with cow manure. Planted 5 Rhubarb plants brought from the garden place, They all appear to be dieing What have we done wrong? We have one plant what is about 3 years old and grows very well in the same garden?
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Showing 561 - 570 of 636 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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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. GardenGrow 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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