Growing Rhubarb

Rheum rhabarbarum : Polygonaceae / the dock family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
              P P      

(Best months for growing Rhubarb in South Africa - Summer rainfall regions)

  • P = Plant crowns
  • Easy to grow. Plant pieces of rhizome or roots 8 - 10 cm (3 - 4 in.) deep. Best planted at soil temperatures between 5°C and 20°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 90 cm apart
  • Harvest in approximately 1 years. You will have a stronger plant if you leave it for about a year before using..
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Brassicas (Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower, etc)

Your comments and tips

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for South Africa | for all countries
01 Oct 20, martin (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Where can I buy rhubarb plants?
Reply or Post a new comment
05 Oct 20, Nick Baxendale (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Hi Martin There is a company in the Cape called seeds for Africa, they sell the seeds. Cheers Nick
Reply or Post a new comment
02 Oct 20, (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Google where to buy rhubarb in S A.
Reply or Post a new comment
25 Sep 20, Nkreen (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Best planting option soil sun and watering please. Desperate to get a plant growing healthy for rhubarb crumble
Reply or Post a new comment
27 Sep 20, (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Start with good rich soil, 6-8 hrs sunlight a day, and water 3 times a week. Read the notes here first.
Reply or Post a new comment
18 Aug 20, Anne (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
How should the rhubarb be kept over winter if kept in a pot? I believe they need the cold period. My young plant looked half dead until I put it in our warm light grow room for now, but I believe that wouldn't be a year round solution, is that right?
Reply or Post a new comment
20 Aug 20, Anon (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Check online how to plant grow and harvest it.
Reply or Post a new comment
11 Jan 20, Kevin Crosbie (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Hi we live in Port Elizabeth and recently started growing a rhubarb plant in a pot. It has being doing fine although some critter has been eating on the leave. I came home yesterday and it looked like it had started wilting so I gave it some water,thus morning it looks like it is dying there are some new leaves at the bottom should I be cutting back the old growth?
Reply or Post a new comment
13 Jan 20, (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I don't grow rhubarb but if the leaves are dead then cut them back.
Reply or Post a new comment
22 Dec 19, Hannes (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
What time of the year is best to plant Rhubarb seeds in Gauteng?
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 21 - 30 of 63 comments
See comments for all plants

I am growing Victoria rhubarb in three-gallon nursery pots in North Georgia. I started the plants (small roots) this spring in a sunny area during cool weather, but moved them into partial to full shade as the heat increased. The soil in the pots is a loamy sand mixed half and half with compost. I water daily, about a quart of water per plant. I top dress each pot with about a teaspoon of granular 13-13-13 fertilizer whenever I notice growth slowing down, roughly once a month.. So far, it has handled temperatures up to 95 F with no problems. My plants are huge, about 3.5 feet across with long thick stems. One thing I have noticed! is the stems are mostly green, not red, this could be due to the shade, or possibly heat. They still taste great in strawberry rhubarb pie, though I'm harvesting very little this first year, hoping for the plants being larger and stronger next year. As a precaution against disease, any leaves and stems that are starting to yellow with age I pull off of the plant and compost them.

- Catt Mandu

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.