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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23 Dec 12, bec (Australia - temperate climate)
how do make my rhubarb stalks go red what are they needing for this problem thanks
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27 Jan 13, Kevin (Australia - temperate climate)
You cant change the colour of the stalks,it is purely a cosmetic thing ,taste is no different,if you want a red colour when you cook the stalks add some mixed berries ( from the frozen section of the supermarket or cochinealle!!
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16 Dec 12, Bridget Baynham (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Can rhubarb be grown in a large pot?
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08 Sep 13, Colleen S. Johnson (New Zealand - temperate climate)
It will grow well in a large pot. Remember it is a gross feeder and likes plenty of fertiliser.
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15 Dec 12, maureen colledge (Australia - temperate climate)
something is eating the leaves so only the veins remain i have put down snailbait signs of a few of them but nothing to compare with the amount of damage done to a large area of plants
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02 Feb 13, Ernie (Australia - temperate climate)
Maureen, I've also come across this problem and discovered the culprits are possums - they love emerging leaf growth and if left unattended they can kill off the roots.
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20 Dec 12, Bert (Australia - temperate climate)
Maureen there are small flies like aphids everywhere in my garden taking the goodness out of plants as you describe. I used the appropriate spray and got them out
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05 Dec 12, Trish (Australia - temperate climate)
When should I harvest the crop? The stalks have remained green , are they safe to eat?
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01 Dec 12, Bill Hitchings (Australia - temperate climate)
Heaps of horse manure has given me huge plants with expansive leaves and thick stems. But stems are green rather than red. Can they be picked and used or should I wait until they turn red? Thanks
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29 Oct 12, Cheryl (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Is it normal for rhubarb roots to grow on the surface. I have two roots from a 2 year old plant growing along the top of the ground. Could it be looking for more water. Thank you
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Showing 581 - 590 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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