Botanical Name
Rheum rhabarbarum
Grown as
Toxicity
Sun Exposure
Water Needs
Height
Spread
Special Features
Resilience
Plant Type
Planting
When to Plant Rhubarb
- Rhubarb can be planted in late fall or early spring.
- Plant rhubarb crowns after dormancy has set in in the fall, and you’ll have rhubarb cropping in the spring!
- In spring, plant crowns when the soil is workable, when the roots are still dormant, and before growth begins (or as plants are just beginning to leaf out). If you have a temperature gauge, soil temperature should be 50°F minimum.
Where to Plant Rhubarb
Rhubarb grows best in full sun but will tolerate partial shade.
Choose a site with soil that is well-draining and fertile. Good drainage is essential, as rhubarb will rot if kept too wet. Mix compost, rotted manure, or anything high in organic matter into the soil. Rhubarb plants are heavy feeders and need this organic matter. Learn more about soil amendments and preparing soil for planting.
Rhubarb gets big! It can grow to 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. Make sure you choose a site where it won’t be crowded.
How to Plant Rhubarb
- Plant 1-year-old rhubarb crowns, which you can find at a garden center or nursery, or order online. Plants will be sold as bare-rooted specimens or young plants already growing in pots, ready for transplanting. (Rhubarb can be grown from seed, but this is not recommended.)
- Before planting, eliminate all perennial weeds in the planting site.
- Dig large, bushel-basket-size holes.
- Space rhubarb plants about 2 to 4 feet apart and 3 to 4 feet between rows.
- Plant crowns so the eyes are about 2 inches below the soil surface with buds facing up.
- Water well at the time of planting.
Check out this video to learn more about how to plant rhubarb:
Growing
Overcrowding is a common problem with rhubarb and can lead to subpar growth. Dig and split rhubarb roots every 3 to 4 years. Divide when plants are dormant in early spring (or late fall). Divisions should have at least one large bud on them.
- Mulch generously with a heavy layer of straw to retain moisture and discourage weeds.
- Water your plant well and consistently. Rhubarb needs sufficient moisture, especially during the hot, dry summer days.
- Remove seed stalks as soon as they appear, as they will only drain energy from the plant that could be used to produce stalks or roots.
- Each spring, apply a light sprinkling of fertilizer (10-10-10) when the ground is thawing or has just thawed. See your local frost dates.
- In the fall, remove all plant debris. Once your ground freezes, it’s best to cover rhubarb with 2 to 4 inches of organic mulch, preferably well-rotted compost. By adding nitrogen to the soil, you’re preparing the rhubarb plants for a good spring season.
Toxicity
The stalks are the only edible part of the rhubarb plant. These have a rich, tart flavor when cooked. The leaves of the rhubarb plant are toxic. They contain an irritant called oxalic acid, so be sure that they are not ingested.
Types
These common varieties have attractive red stalks and excellent growers:
- ‘Canada Red’
- ‘Crimson Red’
- ‘MacDonald’
- ‘Valentine’
In addition to the previous four, there is a reliable, green-stalked cultivar named:
- ‘Victoria’
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
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.
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 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
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!
do deer and other animals like to eat the plants
Rhubarb leaves are toxic so deer and other animals tend to stay away from them, especially given other choices.
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 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!).
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.
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