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 5°C and 20°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 90 cm 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

30 Aug 19, Katharin (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Harvesting notes say do not harvest rhubarb until a year old ! So what does that mean ? ie if I buy plants from garden centre I’m guessing already a year old ??? Maybe . Or does it mean once a crown is planted in my garden leave for first year . I have planted crowns given to me but didn’t do well so have moved ... now looking better , I have a variety of plants from garden centres , markets etc . I’m confused as too what year I can start harvesting. Some of it this season we hope ... how will we know . ?
03 Sep 19, anon (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
I have not seen rhubarb growing for 50+ years but I would guess it depends on the size of the crown and how fat/big and healthy the stalks/crown looks. I bought asparagus crowns - about 50mm diameter - how old probably 6-9 mths. I grew some from seed and at 12 mths they were 150mm dia. Judge by how good the plant looks.
07 Oct 19, anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
https://www.tuigarden.co.nz/how-to-guide/rhubarb-growing-guide/ Here is a website about growing it. Do some research about growing it. Read a lot of different websites about what is required to grow it.
09 Dec 19, Brian Cossill (New Zealand - temperate climate)
is there any sense in using a rhubarb forcer to increase the length of the stalks during the growing season in NZ cheers Brian
10 Dec 19, Anon (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I suggest you google rhubarb forcer and read what it does.
12 Dec 19, Anon (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Read up about what a forcer does on the net.
14 Dec 19, Brian Cossill (New Zealand - temperate climate)
ruhbarb doesn't need any thing done to your plant in NZ other than water fortnightly cheers Brian
13 Mar 21, Aaron Burnside (New Zealand - temperate climate)
We live in Christchurch. When is the best time of the year to split a rhubarb plant so I can give some to a friend
15 Mar 21, Anonymous (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Read the notes here, it tells you.
01 Sep 22, Jack Hudson Hay (New Zealand - temperate climate)
How long is the life of a rhubarb plant
Showing 21 - 30 of 31 comments

My rhubarb has very large leaves and very short stems. How do I get it growing the other way round?

- Jill Selwood

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