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.
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Growing rhubarb in a pot?
I don't have a good sunny spot to grown rhubarb in the ground, but am wondering if it will do okay in a pot that can be placed in a sunny location?
Newly acquired rhubarb plants
Just acquired a flowering rhubarb plant from a garden at a home that my son and daughter-in-law purchased. What is the best way to transplant it into my yard.
rhubarb transplanting
Rhubarb is normally transplanted in early spring (before growth begins) or early fall (mid-September through early October). At this point, I guess get it in the ground as soon as you can. Rhubarb does best in fertile, well-drained soils and full sun. Translate into the garden with the buds 1 ½ to 2 inches below the soil surface. Follow above plant care directions. Good luck!
rhubarb
my rhubarb stalks are very thin. The entire is straggly looking..never gets big like see other peoples. Plants are in the open but seem to not even kill weeds or grass around them. They just aren't producing like they should. I even bought new plants because the old ones were not producing well. Do I need to replant somewhere else..get new plants and start completely over?
poor rhubarb stalks
You do not say how old your plant is…but you need to give it about two years (tow growing seasons) to become established. Old plants become spindly and thin when they are overcrowded; they would need to be divided and replanted (whereupon the two-year establishment cycle would start again). It’s also possible that your plant lacks vigor due to poor soil: Rhubarb is a heavy feeder: it loves organic matter such as aged manure and/or rich compost. It should get full sun and regular watering. Anything here sound like a fit?
Where to plant rhubarb?
Hi I live in southwest Wyoming at 6300 ft - high desert. I’m getting ready to plant some rhubarb but understand it needs full sun. I have a 9x24 plot on the east side of our house that gets morning sun until about 1 or 2 in the afternoon (a total of about 6 or 7 hrs of sun) then after that it’s shaded. How well do you think it would perform there?
rhubarb in Wyo
Hard to tell, but try it. Most sources advise, as we do above, that rhubarb needs “full sun.” That usually means around 8 hours of sun, including midday/afternoon sun. If there is any way you can give the plant a southern exposure—even as a single plant outside of your plot—you may be able to increase its sunshine. If critters are a concern, know that they seldom go after (eat) it, and it will remain pretty self-contained for 4, 5, or even 6 years (before dividing is needed). Just prep the soil with rich organic matter. Hope it succeeds for you!
Growing Rhubarb in Florida
I will be moving from NY to FL and would like to bring my rhubarb plants and understand they won't survive the winter because it doesn't get cold enough. Would the plants survive if I put them in a spare refrigerator in the winter or refrigerate or freeze the roots?
rhubarb in Florida
Rhubarb does not really do well in Florida. Gardeners trying to grow it in the deep south are advised to treat it like an annual. Buy new crowns, freeze them for 6 weeks, and then plant. You could try your way for the first year and see how your plants do. Be sure to give them a little bit of water while you are cooling them.
Rhubarb
Hi, I’ve been told that you must cut off the flower stalk to keep the rhubarb growing and I’ve been told it doesn’t matter. Is it necessary to cut off the flower stalk?
Cutting the Flower Stalk
It’s better to cut the flower stalk in order to prevent the plant from wasting energy on developing flowers and seeds over more stems and foliage.
Flower stalk
Hello, My rhubarb plant flower stalks became rather large before I got the chance to cut them. Since they were so big there were many leaf stalks coming off the main flower stalk. Are the stalks from the flower stalk edible? They look just like the regular rhubarb stalks, and I don't like to waste anything, so I was hoping they are also edible and use them like I would regular rhubarb stalks. Thank you.
rhubarb flower stalk
Hi there. I couldn’t confirm that it is absolutely safe, so I think it would be best not to harvest those leaf petioles that come off of the flowering stalk itself. Some sources say that the flowering stalk itself is not edible. The flower buds can be eaten when specially prepared, but not the stalk they are attached to, nor the papery covering surrounding the buds, or the leaves along the stem. All in all, it’s best to just discard the entire flowering stalk to be on the safe side. Or, you can place them in a flower arrangement, away from children and pets.
Rhubarb harvest
I didn't read anything about a 2nd harvest. I always take second clippings the first part of September. First cut is typically May. I am in Zone 4. No problems with my bounty. Am I doing wrong by taking a 2nd harvest??
May 7 and I just got rhubarb plants from a friend
Some are big and have flower stalks others are very small just starting to get leaves others are bare roots with no stalks (oops while digging?). Will any of these survive if I plant them now? She wanted the patch that came with her new house cleared out. If they're better planted in the fall, how do I get them to go dormant and save them over the summer? We're in zone 5b (NW CT).
would rhubarb die if you burn the old dead leaves off?
I have several rhubarb plants. Last spring, 2018, we burned some dead grass, & the fire spread over the dead rhubarb plants. The rhubarb did not grow in 2018 at all. I am wondering if the plants will grow for this season. Last season was also a very dry summer, which may have affected the growth. I have never had this problem, & usually rhubarb grows if the season is dry or not!
Fire Damage
If the fire was left to burn over the crowns of the rhubarb, it may have killed the below-ground parts of the plants, too. Rhubarb tends to not be planted too deep in the ground, too. If you don’t see any signs of life at this point, it may be a lost cause, unfortunately!
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?
Stay green
Thomas: color depends on the 'type' of plant. Victoria Red is more red stalks and a l little less tart than the green. As far as cooking the rhubarb is concerned: it doesn't matter. From what I read- I don't think the sand is a good idea, as all rhubarb needs the feed/nutrients. Maybe you could add some darker soil--miracle grow organic--to your soil?
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 blooms
When blooms show up on the rhubarb plant, should I cut them off?
Rhubarb
Should I cut off blooms when they start growing?
Rhubarb flowers
I live in Ohio, but we spend the winter in Florida. We did not get home until the end of April this year, my plants were two feet or more taller, however at least 3/4 of the plants had flowers and the stems were hollow I pulled the flowering plants out . This is the second time this has happened, what is my next step. Thanks
Growing Rhubarb in the Mid-West
My family has grown Rhubarb in Illinois for many years. We have many weeks of below freezing temps in the Winter and 90-100 degree Summers.
I have never had any issues with it not coming back every Spring
Reply for hot/cold zones
For those that are concerned about your weather areas and rhubarb: I grew up eating wild rhubarb in North Dakota, so I think the information would be for using the knowledge learned here and apply to your area. Hotter Zones -maybe plant rhubarb in a 'partial shade' area; colder zones: fuller sun areas? I have both areas..patches scattered on the property: now living in the East: Zone 4. We rarely get to 100 degrees, lots of rain, mountainous area, humid. We also rarely get below 0 degrees. My most productive patch is at the end of my full sun garden but it gets shade from the huge lilac trees in the evenings. Overall-I feel 'best sun' is 'morning sun'. Hope this helps.
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
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