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

23 Apr 20, Michael G (Australia - temperate climate)
I am in Adelaide and have just seeded rhubarb. Am I too early or will they turn into crowns to plant in spring?
08 Apr 20, Anon (Australia - temperate climate)
What about growing rhubarb in the San Francisco Bay Area - Oakland - South/across the bay from SF?
23 Mar 20, gary ellard (Australia - temperate climate)
have been growing rhubarb in a 2mtr square wicking bed. Have shreddard old horse manure and placed it on top of the bed as a mulch. Before i did this , i was cultivating stalks regularly but then the leaves turned red and i lost the lot. I was led to believe rhubarb loves manure of horse. Have i done any thing wrong?
24 Mar 20, Chris (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
It might be too acid. Have you checked the soil pH?
24 Mar 20, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Manures generally have little NPK. When you put these or other mulches in the soil, they grab all the N to break the manure down, therefore the plant has little access to N and don't grow much. In future put the manure in a pile and wet it and turn it over regularly to break it down to compost before putting it on the garden. When applying mulch over put it on about 50mm thick. Mulch 200mm thick will take a long time for water to pernitrate through to the soil.
18 Feb 20, Shari (USA - Zone 10a climate)
What about growing rhubarb in the San Jose CA area? I am in a warm, sunny, dry subtropical zone. The last rhubarb I planted was Victoria. It was pithy and green and bothered my stomach. I was going to try KangaRhu which supposedly is bred for warmer climes. I am a transplanted Midwesterner who misses my rhubarb. Has anyone had successful experience in my area? What type?
30 Dec 20, Rebekah Sandell (USA - Zone 8a climate)
I used to live in both San Jose and Sunnyvale. Our Rhubarb plants were the envy of the neighborhood. We planted Strawberry Rhubarb we got from OSH garden (sorry) you might try the Santa Clara County Master Gardeners to find out which type is best for San Jose.
09 Feb 20, Mary Russell (Australia - arid climate)
I am growing my rhubarb in a tub.The plant grows 3 slim stalks .One stalk dies then another grows.lt keeps repeating this pattern.So into able to use in cooking I keep the plant in semi shade as the sun was too harsh in good topsoil Can you help please
15 Feb 20, Cassie (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Also rhubarb is a heavy feeder and evolved in cooler temperate climates. It does not like its roots to get hot and being in a tub in a hot climate might be impairing irs growth
10 Feb 20, Another gardener (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Rhubarb needs full sun and tolerates light shade. As I have outside garden beds I don't do pots. Pots need a lot more attention to soil requirements and watering. In most cases plants will survive in hot weather if watered regularly and if need be some shade. You say in a tub, does it have enough drainage.
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