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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rhubarb did not come up
I planted rhubarb roots bought at a store in late spring of last year. It never came up. I watered it every couple of days if it didn't rain. I had dug holes and added compost to the hole before planting. What did I do wrong?
rhubarb failed
You know that rhubarb needs a winter chill (below 40°F), right? And a moderate summer (75°F-ish, on average). You do not indicate where you are from.
One of our editors did the same thing and had the same outcome. Twice. (Not very encouraging, huh?) Actually the third time was the charm.
In early spring, she dug a much larger hole (a square yard of space, not merely pot-size, 10 inches down), thus amending the soil (with compost, aged manure, and 5-10-10 fertilizer) in a much larger area. She put the hole in a sunny spot, for full-day exposure. And she made sure that the crowns were near the surface--no more than an inch or so under soil. And she watered to keep it moist, but not soggy.
It seemed to work. The pie was delicious!
We hope this helps— best wishes.
PLANT ROOT IN THE GROUND NOT
PLANT ROOT IN THE GROUND NOT DEEPER THEN 2 INCHES
California Girl
I live inland from Laguna Beach, California. I grew rhubarb very successfully for two years. I had two plants that were in a vegetable garden and planted in the shade of a crepe myrtle tree. Our soil is full of clay. The two plants were Victoria. I did everything wrong. I picked as much as I could the first year and made 4 pies and 4 batches of preserves. I fertilized them with Miracle Grow. The second year I made 7 pies and 4 more batches of preserves. Would have made more but we went out of town in the middle of June for a summer long RV trip. Unfortunately it was SOOO very HOT in Southern California last year that the two plants dried up. They were on a drip watering system but that didn't work when the weather was over 100 for a week at a time. The first of January I tried finding bareroot rhubarb in the nurseries. I found one Canadian Red in a nursery and 2 Victorias at Lowes. Would have loved one more plant but couldn't find one. I am anxious to see what happens this year. Will still pick this year and fertilize because it worked for me.
I live in the mountains above
I live in the mountains above Santa Barbara it also gets very hot through the summer. Last year I bought a six pack of rhubarb at Green Thumb nursery in Ventura. I planted them in a raised bed fairly close together.
Five of them grew just like you'd expect, the sixth one just exploded, and we had a hard time keeping up with the amount of rhubarb it produced. Without any exaggeration we got at least ten pies off of the one plant. We never harvested any useable stalks off of the other five, Then, I suppose it was as the weather turned hot all we got were thin stalks and short stalks. The heavy producing one also went to seed. I have just transplanted them and gave them a little more room.
You can find it for sale at Whole Foods in season, and also at some Farmer's Markets.
rhubarb
what is the kind of rhubarb can i grow in georgia? i am original from wyoming and we used to be able to grow some there, my grandmother made the best rhubarb pies out of and man for the last few years i been wanting to make me a pie or two but they do not sell rhubarb in the stores here. is there a kind of rhubarb i can raise and plant so i can grow my own? if so were would i get them so i can plant next year or start in the greenhouse during winter spring months
The summer heat in the south
The summer heat in the south and lack of cold during winter play a part in rhubarb's scarcity in your area. It can be grown, but you have to prepare. Buy seeds now to start indoors(check www.burpee.com) and plant outside in the spring as soon as soil can be worked. Use lots of compost where you plant your rhubarb. Plant in partial shade, opposed to the usual instructions of planting in full sun. Georgia gardeners also report having more luck with rhubarb when planted on the eastern side of their home or garage.
Good luck!
Rhubarb in Georgia
Don't buy seeds unless you are planting a HUGE garden. If you just want a few plants then buy bareroots from Burpee if you can't get them in your local nursery. Maybe your local nursery will order them for you and they mights cost less. Good luck. California Girl
seeds are like 70-80% sucess
seeds are like 70-80% sucess rate but i would suggest starting them inside, as they are fragile and weeds are hard to control, keep them inside for 2+months then you can plant them outside, control weeds
I am also from Georgia, and
I am also from Georgia, and while I never grew Rhubarb there, my mother-in-law successfully grew it. You will not have much success if you are South of Atlanta, as it get much too hot and dry during the summer months. She grew hers on the North and East side of the house. It will get plenty of sun, but not the hottest sun from the afternoon. The north side because it will get enough cold in the winter to cause the dormancy. Good Luck.
Rhubarb
do deer and other animals like to eat the plants
Rhubarb leaves are toxic so
Rhubarb leaves are toxic so deer and other animals tend to stay away from them, especially given other choices.
growing Rhubarb in Cental FL
I purchased plants at a Feed store and was told the plants do well FL. I don't kow the varity. The plants have long stalks and are vine like. I haven't found any pctures that will help me identify the varity? Can anyone help?
Rhubarb isn't well adapted
Rhubarb isn't well adapted for Florida climates though I've heard there is one variety that manages. See this link from your Florida cooperative extension service: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mv124
Perhaps you could go back to your Feed store and ask the variety; then call your cooperative extension to get more local information (and Google the variety!).
rhubarb
Here it is last of Aug and my rhubarb,which is on the west side of my hose is beautiful.I think it most be cause it does not get direct sun. It really only gets direct sun in the afternoon.
rhubarb
My rhubarb plants are still growing like crazy and this is August! Can i still harvest and eat this late in the season?
Jeanne, Auburn, IN.
If your rhubarb is still
If your rhubarb is still putting out new growth and not dried out, then you can still harvest it! Sometimes cooler nights in late summer can bring on growth. Once it starts to lay down and it doesn't look so great, it's done. Usually it's done in September.
rhubarb with green stalks
some of my rhubard stalks ar green, but most are red. Are the green any good?
The color of rhubarb stalks
The color of rhubarb stalks can vary, based on the cultivar. For example, Victoria and Linneaus cultivars have green stalks that blush a little red near the base. More recent cultivars, such as Ruby, Valentine and Canada Red, have solid red stalks.
rhubarb leaves
I was admiring my garden and noticed that one of my rhubarb leaves was almost completly gone from the inside out. Is this crown rot? And when i harvest my rhubarb will it grow back?
Rhubarb
It's hard to say what is plaguing your rhubarb. If it is crown rot, it will be affecting the area where the stems and roots meet, not the leaves.
However, there are particular diseases that affect the leaves on rhubarb . These diseases often create a shot-hole appearance and can be taken care of with good sanitation. Remove all of the flower debris after the first frost. Also, be sure to heavily fertilize at the start of harvest time next year.
Thank you for your interest in the Old Farmer's Almanac and our Web site.
harvesting after seeds form
How long can you harvest the rhubarb, can you harvest and eat after it goes to seed (I did not cut my seed tops off)?
Rhubarb
The best time to harvest rhubarb is mid-June. You'll want to cut the tops off after they begin to flower. However, there's no problem if you decide wait longer to harvest them. They are still edible and will not make you sick.
Be aware of freezing temperatures! Temps like this can cause toxins in the leaves to spread to the stalks rendering them as poisonous.
Thank you for your interest in the Old Farmer's Almanac and our Web site.
RHUBARB IN NORTH TX
I live in NE TX and have had great luck so far with rhubarb (Victoria variety). Do not harvest first year and keep well watered. Second year harvest only 2 stalks per plant in first two weeks of harvest season (late spring) third year you may harvest up to half of stalks over an eight week period. Bought my roots at Tractor Supply. Good luck!
Where to buy rhubarb plants?
I live in zone 9 - North Texas and I've been told rhubarb doesn't grow here - but I want to give it a try. Our local garden stores don't even stock it. Where can I buy it online?
In northern Texas you should
In northern Texas you should be in zone 8. I live in zone 8, but in Alabama. I have lived in San Antonio, the climate is about the same. I am growing rhubarb just fine. You do not want to put it in full sun down here. I have read the east side of the house is best. I bought mine at Walmart. You can also buy it at Michigan bulb co. or Burpee.com. Good luck
rhubarb
I live in zone 10 in Southwest Florida and have planted rhubarb for the first time. What do you think of my chances of survival for my 3 plants. Right now I have 3 leaves on each plant. It gets pretty hot down here in the summer months.
Bobbi Robertson
N Ft Myers FL
growing rhubarb in hot climates
You already bought the plants so all you can do is try, which is what I am doing. I live in zone 8, hot TX. An employee at a hardware store told me it is to hot here to grow rhubarb, but my mom grew it in Sacramento, CA and it reaches 100+ every summer. So I am giving it a try. Hope you succeed, but either way, let others know how the plants do.
The taste!!
Believe it or not, my niece and I would eat this raw right from the garden. Turn your tongue inside out-LOL! We both craved that super sour for some reason.
Rhubarb
The only fertilizer I ever use is fireplace wood-ash. Early spring as roots poke through earth spread on patch & scratch it in.
Frequent watering is essential.
My patch this year has been the best in years.
Mike Windle;
Osoyoos, BC.
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