Rhubarb Growing Guide

Rhubarb is a hardy, low-maintenance crop tolerant of frost, wind, and cold. Aesthetically, this crop can also add beautiful color and texture to your garden. Rhubarb is also considered a fruit because it is used in sweet dishes. However, it is a vegetable and appears in vegetable fields. By planting rhubarb in late winter, you can enjoy delicious rhubarb stalks in March.

Here is a complete guide to growing rhubarb in your garden. Keep reading to learn how to plant, grow, and properly harvest this attractive vegetable.

About Rhubarb

Rhubarb is an herbaceous perennial vegetable with tangy, ruby, or green stems. Its colorful, tart stems are used to make cakes, jams, crumbles, pies, and sauces. This vegetable signals the arrival of spring in the garden as its stems emerge in early spring through the soil.

Rhubarb thrives in cooler climates, which makes it popular in northern gardens. It is very easy to grow and produces plenty of delicious stalks every year. However, it needs a dormancy period to thrive and make plenty of huge stalks. The tart stems are usually tamed with sugar or sweet berries.

Rhubarb thrives in the regions where winter temperatures drop below 40°F (4°C) and summer temperatures below 75°F (24°C). The important thing to note is that only the stalks of rhubarb are edible. Its leaves offer textural beauty but are poisonous, so you shouldn't eat them; instead, add them to compost.

Types of Rhubarb

Rhubarb comes in a wide range of varieties with stems of various reddish hues, from deep ruby to light pink or blush green. Sweetness, flavor, and harvesting time also vary between varieties. Choose a compact variety for container gardening and early to force in winter.

Here are the common varieties of rhubarb:

• Victoria
• Valentine
• Ruby Tart
• Winter Harvest
• Glaskin's Perpetual
• Timperley Early
• Canada Red
• Crimson Red

Soil Needs for Planting Rhubarb

Rhubarb thrives in well-drained, fertile soil in full sun. It does not like sandy soil unless a lot of organic matter has been mixed in. Rhubarb hates having wet feet, so good drainage is essential. If it is kept too wet, it'll rot. These are heavy feeders and need organic matter for healthy growth. So, mix well-rotted manure, compost, or any amendment high in organic matter into the soil.

Rhubarb produces harvest for up to ten years, so plant it in a sunny location where it remains undisturbed for a long period.

Spacing and Depth

Give rhubarb plenty of space to spread out. Choose a planting location where it won't be crowded. Plants can grow 2-3 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide. Space rhubarb plants 4 to 6 feet apart and 3 to 4 feet between rows.

Rhubarb is usually grown from crowns (root divisions) instead of seeds to speed up the harvest. Plant these crowns 4 to 6 feet apart and 4 inches deep. If planted close to each other, rhubarb will be less productive and smaller. A support structure is not needed for rhubarb plants.

Growing Zones and When to Plant Rhubarb

Rhubarb grows best in hardiness zones 3 to 8. It thrives in zones where the ground freezes in winter. You can plant this perennial vegetable in cool early spring or late fall.

In spring, plant rhubarb crowns when the ground has thawed, and the soil becomes workable. The soil temperature should be 50°F minimum. If you plant crowns after dormancy has set in in the fall, you will have rhubarb cropping in the spring.

How to Plant Rhubarb

Rhubarb can be purchased as crowns, which are dormant bare-root plants or young plants growing in pots. You can get 1-year-old rhubarb crowns from the nursery or garden center. Choose a sunny planting site and remove all weeds from the area before planting.

Dig large planting holes that are larger than roots. Space rhubarb crowns 4-6 feet apart. Plant crowns with buds facing up and eyes are around 2 inches below the soil surface. Fill the area around the roots with soil and water.

How to Grow Rhubarb from Seeds

Growing rhubarb from seeds is not the easiest or recommended method, but it is the least expensive way to produce abundant plants. Seed-grown plants take longer to grow than rhubarb purchased as potted or bare-root plants with strong roots.

In spring, sow rhubarb seeds outdoors 1 inch deep and then thin out seedlings 6 inches apart. The quality of seed-raised plants can vary, so choose the strongest plant varieties to grow.

Fertilization Needs of Rhubarb

Rhubarb is a low-maintenance plant, and once established, it will be productive for up to ten years. However, maintaining soil fertility is important to maintaining plant health. Rhubarb plants need plenty of organic matter to grow well. In autumn, mulch around the plants with well-rotted manure, leaf mold, and homemade compost to suppress weeds, retain soil moisture, and boost fertility. Give plants a liquid feed each spring when the ground is thawing. This will promote stronger plant growth.

We recommend not using chemical fertilizers on young plants because nitrates can kill them. If you plan to eat your rhubarb plant, add organic fertilizer around the plant at the start of the second growing season.

Watering needs of Rhubarb

Water your plant consistently. Rhubarb needs regular and sufficient moisture in its first two growing years, especially during hot summer days. Mature plants can tolerate drought to some degree. Avoid overwatering rhubarb plants because wet soil can cause crowns to rot. The best way is to water the plant when the top of the soil dries out.

Water newly planted rhubarb regularly throughout the first growing year until it is well rooted. Once plants are established, water them only during prolonged hot, dry summers. Plant growth will slow down if growing conditions are so dry. Moreover, if growing rhubarb in containers, water them regularly because the compost will dry out quickly. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged.

Forcing Rhubarb

An early crop of sweeter rhubarb can be produced by forcing rhubarb plants. Forcing plants means covering rhubarb crowns in early winter to prevent light from reaching the stems. You can use a tall bucket or a forcing jar to cover plants. Place the covering over the crowns and check the plant every week. Your plants will have tender stems after about a week.

Harvesting Rhubarb

Don't harvest any stalks in the first year, and pick only a few stalks in the second year, as this will weaken the plant's strength. After that, the plant is established and ready to harvest normally. When the stalks are long, around 30-60cm, they can be harvested.

Harvest rhubarb stalks when they're red or green. Simply pull and twist the stems to harvest rhubarb. There is no need to use a knife. This will promote fresh new growth.

Spring is the main harvest season, but smaller harvests will continue throughout the summer. Cut the stalks at the soil line and then remove the leaves. Forced rhubarb is ready to harvest from late winter to early spring, but the stems will be shorter yet sweeter.

Usage and Storage

Freshly picked rhubarb stalks are the most delicious. However, they can be stored fresh in the fridge for a couple of weeks. Traditionally, rhubarb is baked or stewed and served with custard, pie, or crumble. Additionally, you can cut the stems into 5-10 cm lengths and freeze them for up to three months in a covered container.

Common Diseases and Care

Rhubarb is a robust and healthy plant that can be produced for at least ten years and last much longer if divided. Pests and diseases are rarely a problem with this plant, but there are some problems to look out for.

Slugs and Snails: These mollusks damage young, tender shoots and create irregular leaf holes. Handpick them and avoid overhead watering.

Crown Rot: It is a fungal infection that occurs at the base of stems and causes crowns to turn reddish brown.

Gray Mold: Gray mold is a fungus that causes stem lesions, gray or brown spots on leaves or flowers, and scorched plant appearance. Destroy infected plants, ensure good air circulation, provide plenty of sunlight, and disinfect garden tools before use.

Fungal Leaf Spots: This is a fungus that causes spots on lower leaves and turns them black or brown. Destroy infected leaves immediately and ensure good air circulation.

The Bottom Line

Rhubarb is a hardy perennial that can thrive in even the coldest regions. With its umbrella-like large leaves and red-ringed stems, rhubarb looks attractive in borders. These plants will add sculptural beauty to your garden, along with stunning colors that will come back year after year. Plant this refreshingly easy-to-grow vegetable and enjoy delicious stalks for up to ten years.

From eating them as a dessert to enjoying them baked in pies, you can use them in several ways, including savory sauces.