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Growing Rhubarb


Gold Post Medal for All Time! 858 Posts
April 19, 2011

stalks of fresh rhubarbIf you enjoy cooking with rhubarb, it's worth making space for a few of these plants in your garden. Although the tart flavored stalks are traditionally used like a fruit for pies, jams, and jellies, rhubarb is actually a long-lived perennial vegetable. With just a minimal amount of effort and care, an established plant will happily provide you with a crop of tasty stalks and attractive foliage for many years.

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How to Grow Rhubarb

Rhubarb is classified as a cold-resistant perennial vegetable. It grows best in climates where the ground freezes to a depth of several inches in the winter, and where summer temperatures seldom climb above 90 degrees F. Although rhubarb is eaten and enjoyed throughout the United States, it tends to struggle in hot, dry climates and can be difficult to grow in many parts of the south (commercial production is concentrated in Washington, Oregon, and Michigan).

Propagation: Rhubarb is usually propagated by planting "crowns" (divisions of the roots that contain buds for new plants). If you neighbor doesn't have some extra plants to share, crowns are easy to obtain at nurseries, garden centers, or through mail order (or online) catalogs. Two to three plants will usually provide plenty of stalks for the needs of an average family.

Where to plant: If you take the time to prepare your planting site ahead of time, established plants will reward you handsomely for possibly decades into the future. Because rhubarb is a long-lived perennial, it's best to set aside a large, sunny, out-of-the-way spot in the garden where it will be free to grow without interfering with annual vegetable crops. Rhubarb is a heavy feeder and grows best when planted in fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0-6.8. Work the soil to a depth of 24 inches before setting in the crowns so roots have plenty of room to expand.

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How to plant: Plant rhubarb in early spring. For each crown, dig a hole 2 feet deep and 2 feet wide. Space each hole 3 feet apart in all directions. (Some varieties are larger and may need even more space). Back-fill the hole to a depth of 12 inches with equal part soil and compost or well-rotted manure, plus 1/3 cup of 10-10-10- fertilizer.

Place one crown in each hole so that the plant buds sit 3-4 inches below the soil surface. Tamp the soil firmly around the roots, and fill the remainder of the hole with equal parts compost and topsoil. Mulch around each plant to conserve moisture and protect roots.

Feeding: Work a balanced (10-10-10) fertilizer into the top few inches of soil around the shoots at the first sign of growth each spring.

Division: Older plants can become crowded and should be divided every 4 to 5 years or when they start to exhibit spindly growth. This is best done in the early spring. Use a sharp spade to cut down through the center of the plant. Cut the roots of the removed portion into several parts, each of which should have one to three buds. Plant them as you would crowns.

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Harvesting: Rhubarb plants are usually mature enough for harvesting a few stalks the second year after planting. Stalks are ready to pull when they are 12 to 18 inches long. Young stalks with the deepest red color usually have the best flavor, although some varieties produce only green-colored stalks. Harvest the stalks by twisting them off near the base (cut stems bleed and encourage disease). Rhubarb leaves should never be harvested for food as they contain high amounts of oxalic acid, which can be poisonous.

To maximize production, remove seed spikes as soon as they form to keep them from diverting nutrients from the stalks. Stop harvesting in early July to give plants time to build up food stores for next season.

June 2, 2016

This page is about rhubarb plants turning yellow. Rhubarb likes to grow with good drainage and cool temperatures.

Rhubarb leaf with yellowing leaves in the background

June 2, 2016

This page is about transplanting rhubarb. For a successful crop, learn the best time of year and method to move rhubarb plants.

Rhubarb plants in cardboard box

June 1, 2016

This is a page about harvesting rhubarb. Every fruit and vegetable has an optimal time to harvest it for best flavor.

Hands holding freshly picked rhubarb stalks

May 16, 2015

I planted a rhubarb plant last year and did very little in terms of pulling stalks so as to not ruin the crown. This year, the left over leaves were soggy. I pulled them off, very easily. Now I have "dirt", but can feel maybe the crown. Should I have pulled the soggy leaves? When will I see if the rhubarb will bloom?


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Gold Post Medal for All Time! 677 Posts
November 22, 20170 found this helpful

You have crown rot. You have to dig out and destroy the infected plants.

 
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June 9, 2013

My husband wants to plant more rhubarb this year. However the major plant companies we usually deal with (Park Seed, Burpee, etc.) are out of the crowns. I can find rhubarb seeds many places, but not the crowns. Can anyone help me out?

By Mary W.

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June 17, 20130 found this helpful

Go to freecycle.org and sign up with your Yahoo. account. This is a place where you can post what you are looking for (rhubarb crowns) or post any thing you want to give away.

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Absolutely free-nothing is ever sold or bought. I have gotten tons of plants for my garden on Freecycle. Every state in the Union has freecycle.org sites. good luck.

 
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May 9, 2012

Do you plant the seed part of the rhubarb to make new plants, or is that bad?

By V.B. Jones

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May 9, 20120 found this helpful

It is best just to take a spade and remove part of the existing plant and plant it and water regularly. It will get established quite easily but do not harvest any stalks from the new plant until the following year.

 
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April 26, 2012

Our rhubarb plant has "gone to seed"; do we cut this off or leave it as it is? The rhubarb was growing fine then all of a sudden it grew this huge globe shaped head on one of the stalks. It burst open and, hey presto, seeds.

By Ruth G

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April 26, 20120 found this helpful

It is best to prune that seed stalk off and then your rhubarb plant will produce more edible stalks during the season.

 
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February 11, 2011

I need some advice regarding rhubarb. Firstly my stalks are well over 10 inches but still green, should they be red to eat? Secondly one of my bushes is seeding on top. Should I pull this bush out or just cut the top off. Thanks for your answers in advance.

By Phil

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February 12, 20110 found this helpful

I've never grown rhubarb (it's my understanding that it doesn't do well in this area), but my relatives up north have it. Dad grew up around it, and I remember him telling me that part of the plant is toxic. Here is a link to Dave's Garden -- it's a great resource! I typed in "rhubarb," and this is what came up. Some parts of the site are free, but to access other parts you have to be a subscribing member.

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davesgarden.com/sitewidesearch.php?q=rhubarb

 
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April 12, 2010

I have just transplanted some rhubarb and I want to plant cucumbers in the spot where it was. I just want to make sure the rhubarb won't grow back. What sound I do?

Hardiness Zone: 5b

By SummerRay from Saint Johnsville, NY

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April 12, 20100 found this helpful

Rhubarb is a perennial which means it will keep coming back every year. To get rid of it you must dig up the root system. It is a woody type root and tends to break apart easily so be sure to get it all!

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Rhubarb sends out runners underground and can spread.

 
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March 29, 2010

Something is eating the leaves on my rhubarb, but I can't determine what it is.

Hardiness Zone: 5a

By Tall Boy from Louisville, KY

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Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 147 Feedbacks
March 29, 20100 found this helpful

Call your county extension office & ask for info about your Rhubarb & gardening, good luck.

 
April 1, 20100 found this helpful

The only thing that eats my rhubarb leaves are slugs!

 
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