Marty Baldwin
Rhubarb is quick to plant, simple to grow, and looks great in a perennial bed.
It grows enormous leaves on long, thick stalks and provides bountiful harvests every spring for years.
High-quality rhubarb can be hard to find in the store, and farmers market stands often sell out quickly.
Credit:Marty Baldwin
It isnt picky about soil, although it grows best infertile soil rich in organic matter.
It requires good drainage; even clay soil is suitable as long as it is well-drained.
Beloved by northern gardeners, rhubarb tolerates frigid winters, and most varieties are cold hardy inUSDA Zones3-8.
Credit:Marty Baldwin
Hot summers in southern climates can cause rhubarb problems, but growers are developing heat-tolerant varieties.
While rhubarb stalks are tasty, the leaves are toxic to peopleand animals.
Dont plant it in areas frequented by children or pets.
Credit:Dana Gallagher
you’ve got the option to plant them as soon as the soil can be worked.
Otherwise, do so in spring.
Plant root divisions 3 feet apart in rows 4 feet apart, 2-3 inches below the soil surface.
Credit:Kindra Clineff
If new shoots or leaves are poking up, dont bury them.
Water new plants well and provide athick layer of mulch.
Rhubarb Care Tips
While some care is needed to produce the heaviest yields, rhubarb is self-sufficient.
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Give it a sunny spot with good drainage, and youll likely have plenty of rhubarb to harvest.
Light
Rhubarb likesfull sunshine, and one look at its massive leaves confirms that.
They look like giant, dark green solar panels, which is precisely what they are.
Partial sun is OK, but the sunnier, the better.
Soil and Water
Rhubarb plants are heavy feeders.
Although drainage is essential, rhubarb enjoys consistently moist soil.
Mulching around the plant can modulate soil moisture levels and keep weeds down.
Temperature and Humidity
Rhubarb prefers temperatures that stay below 75F in summer and below 40F in winter.
In areas outside this range, it is usually grown as an annual.
Rhubarb does well in average humidity and encounters problems in areas with high humidity.
Fertilizer
Apply annual side dressings of compost and aged manure for the highest rhubarb yields.
These huge, leafy plants require alot of nitrogen.
Because container soil dries out quickly, check it daily during hot weather.
It may need to be watered every day.
Divide it then and repot the divisions with fresh potting soil.
Pests and Problems
Rhubarb doesnt suffer from many pests.
Slugs can be a concern, but it’s possible for you to manage them withDIY beer slug traps.
Crown rot can also be a problem.
Adequate drainage minimizes this issue.
Dividing the crowns every four or five years can also help.
Rhubarb can also be divided in autumn when the foliage begins to die back.
Not only does dividing rhubarb every few years give you more plants, but it also reinvigorates the plant.
Replant the new piece and leave the parent in place.
Harvesting Rhubarb
Rhubarb can be lightly harvested beginning the second year after planting.
Regular harvesting can begin during the third year and continue through subsequent years.
Full harvests can last up to six weeks.
To harvest a stalk, grasp it at the base and twist it off at ground level.
You may have to pull hard, especially on large stalks.
Remove the leaves and compost them.
Store rhubarb stalks in the refrigerator for up to two weeks orfreeze themfor later use.
Its stalks are delicious as raw snacks, and they require less sugar when cooked.
As the name suggests, this variety is very cold-hardy.
Hardy Tarty
Hardy Tarty rhubarb is an exceptionally heat-tolerant rhubarb with red, non-stringy stalks.
Victoria
Rheum rhabarbarumVictoria is an old-time, heirloom rhubarb variety.
This classic is a heavy producer, with long, red stalks and mild flavor.
If youre looking for the rhubarb grandma had behind the shed, this is likely it.
It is an excellent choice forpiesand sauces.
In addition, low-growing bush beans suppress weeds at the base of rhubarb plants.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pull and discard the flower stalks when you see them.
If you let the plant bloom and set seed, next years rhubarb production will be reduced.
Deer are unlikely to munch on rhubarb plants.
National Capital Poison Center
Rhubarb.
