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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06 Jan 12, GRAEME (Australia - temperate climate)
I HAVE GROWN LOTS OF RHUBARB PLANTS FROM MANY SUPPLYERS ALL SAID TO BE RED STORKED BUT NONE HAVE BEEN ARE WE BEING CONED ????
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11 Aug 13, Lorraine Phillips (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I have tried to grow rhubarb here in the tropics without success but when I bought the first plant it was supposed to be the red one (looks better when cooked) but turned out green, it died! Recently I bought a red one from Bunnings in Cairns to try again and this one is a red one but doing very poorly. I can't understand why nurseries sell plants if they don't do well in a region that they won't grow in.. Oh and to buy stalks from Coles I paid $6 for 6 stems!!
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25 Dec 11, wayne riley (Australia - tropical climate)
my rhubard is growing well but now it is getting eaten by something on the leaves and the leaf has gone brown. what can I do ? please help me.
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22 Nov 14, Dorothy (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have a 2 yr old rhubarb that has produced very well over the last 18 months. yesterday I came home from work and it was limp (never seen it do that before) we have had about 15ml of rain over the last 2 day, and it is quite humid. I gave it water, as the soil looked dry. It seemed to pick up. This morning it is worse all leaves & stems drooping. I dug around the plant and the soil is moist, there seems to be no grubs and there are earth worms in the soil. As this is not it's first hot season, i am at a loss as to what is causing it and what I can do
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03 Dec 11, TED SLATTER (Australia - temperate climate)
My rhubarb planted july next to a fence and on the north side grows well but the storks go soft and now it is trying to flower. any Suggestions.???
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16 Nov 11, Roma Schilling (Australia - temperate climate)
My Rhubarb grows well but the stalks arent very thick. Is it a different type that I need to buy? Thanks Roma
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05 Nov 11, sandra (Australia - temperate climate)
I have 2 types of rhubarb, both of which are supposed to be red, but the stalks remain green. Is there something lacking in my clay soil?
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31 Oct 11, Linda Tassie (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I make it the same way but use lo-cal jelly & lemonade instead of water - very yummy and pretty much zero WW points.
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05 Oct 11, linda (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
I have a rhubarb plant that is a year old and I see it has stalks that look like they have seeded. Do I just cut these out and will the plants keep doing this. This is my first go with rhubarb. Thanks Linda
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08 Sep 13, Colleen S. Johnson (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Best to divide your rhubarb.
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Showing 611 - 620 of 639 comments
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Hi John, I also live in Adelaide and grow rhubarb. Mine grows very well autumn to spring but suffers in summer and goes to seed heavily. I find lots of rooster booster during the growing period and water over summer keeps it growing well, also harvest heavily over the growing months. I am about to do my first cut back and divide of root this winter as I want to reclaim the area I planted and move it to a shaded area for better growing in summer and frost protection in winter. Soil preparation will be 1 part compost 2 parts in place soil heavily dosed with rooster booster. For the first 12 months I will take time to ensure the area will be kept damp all year round until established. Hope that helps.

- Daniel

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