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Growing Rhubarb
Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Rhubarb
Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Rhubarb
Rhubarb is a perennial vegetable, though it is generally used as a fruit in desserts and jams. Here’s how to plant, grow, and harvest your own rhubarb.
Of the rhubarb plant, only the stalks are eaten. These have a rich, tart flavor. The leaves of the rhubarb plant are poisonous, so be sure that they are not ingested. Rhubarb is easy to grow, but needs cool weather to thrive.
Planting
- Before planting, eliminate all perennial weeds.
- Choose a site that is well-drained, fertile, and preferably in full sunlight. Rhubarb does best where the average temperature falls below 40ºF in the winter and below 75ºF in the summer.
- Plant one-year rhubarb crowns in early spring as soon as the ground is workable, when the roots are still dormant and before growth begins or plants are just beginning to leaf out.
- Rhubarb can also be planted in the fall after dormancy has set in.
- Dig large bushel basket-size holes. Space rhubarb plants about 4 feet apart and plant the roots 1 to 2 inches below the surface of the soil.
- Be sure to mix compost, rotted manure, or anything high in organic matter in the soil. Rhubarb plants are heavy feeders and need this organic matter. Don’t add a chemical fertilizer when planting rhubarb or during the first year of growth. Direct contact with nitrates can kill your rhubarb plants. Learn more about soil amendments and preparing soil for planting.
Care
- Mulch generously with a heavy layer of straw and cow manure to provide nutrients for the plant, retain moisture, and discourage weeds.
- Water your plant well. It needs sufficient moisture during the summer.
- Remove seed stalks as soon as they appear.
- After the first spring frost, apply a light sprinkling of a high-nitrogen fertilizer (25-3-3 or 10-6-4) when the ground is thawing or has just thawed, so that the fertilizer will go into the ground and not harm the roots. See your local frost dates.
- Insects and diseases won’t bother rhubarb plants as long as you keep the plants weed-free.
- Dig and split rhubarb roots every 3 to 4 years. Divide when plants are dormant in early spring (or fall).
Pests/Diseases
- Crown rot
Harvest/Storage
- Do not harvest any stalks during the first growing season so that your plants can become established.
- Harvest the stalks when they are 12 to 18 inches long. Usually after 3 years, the harvest period runs 8 to 10 weeks long. If the stalks become thin, stop harvesting; this means the plant’s food reserves are low.
- Grab the base of the stalk and pull it away from the plant with a gentle twist. If this doesn’t work, you can cut the stalk at the base. Be sure to discard of the leaves!
- Always leave at least 2 stalks per plant to ensure continued production. You may have a bountiful harvest for up to 20 years without having to replace your rhubarb plants.
- After harvest time, the stems may die back. Just remove all plant debris. Once your ground freezes, it’s best to cover rhubarb with 2 to 4 inches of mulch, preferably well-rotted compost; by adding nitrogen to the soil, you’re preparing the rhubarb plants for a good spring season.
Recommended Varieties
- Red rhubarb varieties, which are more tender. Some include ‘Valentine’, ‘Crimson Cherry’, and ‘Canada Red’.
Wit & Wisdom
Rhubarb has many other uses, from medicinal to cosmetic. See how to naturally lighten your hair with rhubarb.
Recipes
Cooking Notes
Check out our list of best rhubarb recipes to put your fresh rhubarb to good use! Plus, learn how to make a rhubarb tonic.
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Reader Comments
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Rhubarb
I just found a plant in my garage it’s in a plastic bag from when I got it how long will it last before I plant it as I’m moving to Spain soon and want to try to grow it there???
Rhubarb
I'm near London, UK. I missed the boat with my newly-purchased small Victoria rhubarb roots with no leaves. I now know they should have been planted in early spring! Is it OK to plant them now in mid-April?
rhubarb
My rhubarb never got ripe. It stayed green and had little flavor and was not tart. My soil is very sandy and dose not hold nutrients well, could this be the issue? The plants look good just no taste. What do I need to do?
can I grow rhubarb in warm-summer state
I want to plant and grow rhubarb but notice that it should not get warmer than 75F (right?) but I live in a location where the summer gets in 90s-low100s. Is there a variety that can tolerate this? Or should I pot them and keep inside during summer? The winters here can get cold (below freezing) - could the pots be kept outside then or am I looking at a inside plant situation year round?
I would like to know the same
I would like to know the same thing. I have grown in the past always die at 100 deg
Summer Rhubarb
I've had rhubarb plants for quite a few years. We live in Wisconsin and it gets in the 90's regularly in the summer months. We've never had a problem with the rhubarb. Seems to thrive quite well. I'm not sure of the variety we had but I know a lot of people around here with rhubarb plants and no one has ever complained of a problem because of the heat.
Rhubarb
I have a four year old rhubarb it looks great loads of stalks healthy looking leaves, but when cut a clear slime comes out from the stalks. Any ideas as to what it is and can I do anything. Thanks Pauline
Rhubarb "..when cut"
Not sure what you mean by saying "....but when cut a clear..." If when you remove stalks from the main plant you are cutting them off this could be your problem as I have always been advised that when removing the stalks they should only be twisted until they break free. I have always used this method of removal and have never had any adverse reactions.
Hope this helps.
Rhubarb
Make sure you have an actual rhubarb plant before you use it. The slime doesn't sound right. Take a close up picture of the leaves and plant, to a plant nursery and ask them to identify the pictures.
My niece thought she had a rhubarb and it was not a rhubarb.
Failed rhubarb grower
Hi, I have tried growing rhubarb in a large pot but not much success it grows but is very thin.
It’s in the sun I water it well i did use chicken pellet manure that didn’t help.Is there a liquid fertiliser I could use?
thin stalks
How old is the plant? If this is its first year (or first full year), it may be just getting settled. Rhubarb is a heavy feeder (likes composted, organic material) but could it be that you have too much of a good thing? Is there soil mixed in with the chicken pellets? If so, do you know the pH of the soil? If the pH is too low (limey/sour), the rhubarb will not thrive. We wouldn’t add any more fertilizer, certainly not liquid at this time. Remember, too, that its season is late spring, so it is past its prime for this year (being late July) and may be in its natural seasonal decline, in preparation for winter dormancy.
Rhubarb planting
I am in the UK, under going the hottest summer since 1976. Have grown rhubarb for years. Recently ordered new plants from well established plant company expecting them to arrive later in the season.
They arrived yesterday, 24 July, fully leafed and a bit bedragled. They have
revived over night but my conumdrum is should I plant them now or leave them in the pots and plant them in the autumn as your planting calendar suggests? Jenny. Thanks
plant now or in autumn
We would opt for autumn, Jenny, if you can keep the plants in relatively good condition. They may begin their seasonal decline into dormancy—that is, appear to fail to thrive—but should transplant successfully. (in advance of any problems, you might share your expectations with the company from which you purchased the plants…just in case you need/want a replacement.)
I am also in the UK but in
I am also in the UK but in the north and would advise to plant as soon as you get the rhubarb plants. This year I have had a bumper crop
without doing anything at all and am just about to pull the remaining stalks and throw them out. Best to just leave it alone
and let it multiply. I have no more room left in freezer for mine this year it did so well. No need to feed it but requires plenty
of rain which we usually have here.
Split or let rest??
Hi there! We just moved into a house with a large rhubarb patch. Not sure how old/established it is, but at least a couple of years (probably more). We harvested some good sized stalks earlier this year, but now noticing that there are numerous, spindly stalks. It's been hot, now early July, so I'm not sure if I need to split the plant in the fall, or just let it rest for the month? Any advice is appreciated!
Thanks
Rhubarb
Remove the tall spindly stalks now. They stuck the nutrients out of your Rhubarb patch. Never allow that to grow in your garden.
Rhubarb won't flower
Is this common? Our neighbour gave us a nice clump of rhubarb to plant a few years ago. That first year it flowered, but has not flowered since (maybe 3 years?). Does this plant require another nearby?
rhubarb and flowering
A rhubarb plant can flower for a few reasons–certain varieties flower more often, and the older the plant is, the more often it may flower. Flowering can also be a sign of stress, such as perhaps was the case when you had first planted it (I’m guessing the transplant was a relatively older plant, not a baby). Warm temperatures may also cause it to flower. Many gardeners prefer to remove the flower stalks as they appear so that the plant can focus on developing leaves and leaf stalks. The fact that your plant hasn’t flowered since planting may indicate that it is happy and healthy! As it gets older, you may see some flowers develop again.
When does rhubarb go dormant?
I have several plants that I took from my mother's house after she passed. They are in pots now and I have had them a couple years now. When do they go dormant and when is the best time to plant into the ground?
when to move from pots
The best time to plant rhubarb is in early spring or in the fall. They go dormant in the fall and through winter. See above for additional guidance.
Harvesting Rhubarb
I have been told that you should not harvest and eat, rhubarb after the 4th of July, as the stalks may become poisonous. I was also just told, that you should not harvest and eat, if the plant has flowered / seed stalks. Are either of these true?
Harvesting Rhubarb
The 4th of July cutoff date is not because of any danger of poisoning. The eight to ten weeks of harvesting has passed and the plant now needs to feed the roots and prepare for next years production. The quality of the stalks usually has deteriorated as well but are not dangerous. The flower stalks have no effect on the plants edibility. They are removed so the plant can use its energy to produce stalks instead of seeds.
Old Rhubarb Plants
Hello, we moved into a house that has 2 huge, old Rhubarb plants. It looks like they were ignored for a few years. Should they be cut back to almost nothing? They already have seed heads on them. Thanks
rhubarb ignored for years
Cut off the flower stalk—not the leaf stalks—at the base (don’t twist the flower stalk; instead, use a knife or pruning shears to make a clean cut on these tougher stalks). This way, the plant can focus its energy on forming leaf stalks (which might be useful to you now!). To help prevent bolting again this year, add mulch to keep roots cool during warm spells. Be sure that the plant is getting enough water, light, and nutrients, and isn’t overcrowded. Add lots of organic matter in fall. You should have many happy harvests in your future!
My rhubarb is in it’s 3rd year.
Large leaves and stalks, overall appears quite healthy. I have almost no red coloring on stalks. Is this normal? Can I still harvest ?
White Rhubarb
Because your rhubarb is in its third year, we’ll assume it’s not just a white variety. Perhaps your plant is getting too much sun. If the stalks are the right size for harvesting, try cutting off one to test, then take the rest if it seems ready. If not, let it mature a bit more.
Rhubarb in container
I am a senior citizen and have had a hard time finding rhubarb to purchase, so last year I purchased a rhubarb plant and planted it in a large pot. I put it in the garage to keep through the winter as it gets very cold here at times.. it continued to grow in the garage! I then made sure I kept it watered occasionally. It now is just producing thin stalks that aren't large enough to break off for cooking. I was planning to repot it. Would it help or harm the plant or have I runined it already? Also would I need more than one plant to have enough to make a pie etc.? Thank you
thin stalks
Congratulations on keeping the rhubarb going in the garage. It must be in good soil in a good place. Thin stalks are typical of a first-year plant. As noted above, it is best not to harvest in the first year. You can repot it; this should not harm the plant. Set it in plenty of organic/composted matter and it should thrive. As for how much would you need for a pie, this one requires 2 ½ cups: https://www.almanac.com/recipe/strawberry-rhubarb-pie-coconut-crumb-topping
You can see more rhubarb recipes, using varying amounts, that might appeal to you, too: https://www.almanac.com/content/best-rhubarb-recipes
Rhubarb not red
Our rhubarb is well established. We moved it once for this exact reason thinking that was the case. The stalks do not turn red and the plants (we have 20 or so) all bolt quickly. Is there any truth to the male female stalks like corn has?
why does rhubarb bolt (go to seed)?
It’s natural for rhubarb to flower and go to seed. However, you can delay that stage a few ways: Grow Canada Red or Valentine varieties; they are less likely to bolt that “old-fashioned” varieties such as Victoria and MacDonald (these are heavy stalk producers). Older/more mature plants are more likely to bolt than younger ones, although dividing every 4 to 5 years, as it sounds like you did, can essentially rejuvenate mature plants. Applying fertilizer (a balanced type, e.g. 12-12-12) or well composted manure in spring can also delay/discourage bolting. If your plant volts/produces flowers, it is recommended that you remove them, so it will focus its energy on producing leaves.
We are not familiar with rhubarb compared with corn, but the stem and leaf tissue of rhubarb can be damaged by the European corn borer larvae, which as the name indicates is a pest of corn, both sweet and grain.
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