Growing Rhubarb

Rheum rhabarbarum : Polygonaceae / the dock family

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

Not recommended for growing in Australia - tropical regions

  • 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

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16 Nov 11, Roma Schilling (Australia - temperate climate)
My Rhubarb grows well but the stalks arent very thick. Is it a different type that I need to buy? Thanks Roma
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03 Dec 11, TED SLATTER (Australia - temperate climate)
My rhubarb planted july next to a fence and on the north side grows well but the storks go soft and now it is trying to flower. any Suggestions.???
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25 Dec 11, wayne riley (Australia - tropical climate)
my rhubard is growing well but now it is getting eaten by something on the leaves and the leaf has gone brown. what can I do ? please help me.
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22 Nov 14, Dorothy (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have a 2 yr old rhubarb that has produced very well over the last 18 months. yesterday I came home from work and it was limp (never seen it do that before) we have had about 15ml of rain over the last 2 day, and it is quite humid. I gave it water, as the soil looked dry. It seemed to pick up. This morning it is worse all leaves & stems drooping. I dug around the plant and the soil is moist, there seems to be no grubs and there are earth worms in the soil. As this is not it's first hot season, i am at a loss as to what is causing it and what I can do
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06 Jan 12, GRAEME (Australia - temperate climate)
I HAVE GROWN LOTS OF RHUBARB PLANTS FROM MANY SUPPLYERS ALL SAID TO BE RED STORKED BUT NONE HAVE BEEN ARE WE BEING CONED ????
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11 Aug 13, Lorraine Phillips (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I have tried to grow rhubarb here in the tropics without success but when I bought the first plant it was supposed to be the red one (looks better when cooked) but turned out green, it died! Recently I bought a red one from Bunnings in Cairns to try again and this one is a red one but doing very poorly. I can't understand why nurseries sell plants if they don't do well in a region that they won't grow in.. Oh and to buy stalks from Coles I paid $6 for 6 stems!!
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12 Jan 12, Max (Australia - temperate climate)
The stems on my plant have not turned red. They are more green with a slight red blush. Are they still okay to eat? Your assistance would be appreciated.
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19 Jan 12, rob (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Max the green stalks are better less bitter and needs less sugar when cooking Rob
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17 Feb 12, Daniel (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
According to Peter Cundall, there are green-stemmed and red-stemmed varieties of rhubarb.
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11 Mar 12, Johno (Australia - temperate climate)
My plants are the green stem variety also but i prefer the red stem better i find they have nicer taste when stewed is there something i can do to promote more redness in the storks ?
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I got a clump of rhubarb from my sister this summer. I have a brick planter in the front yard that had some room, so I planted it there, beside an artichoke plant. Gave it a good dose of vitamin B1, kept it well watered and it has been doing very well, looking very healthy, and, all of a sudden, it turned yellow. It started turning yellow in October. Could it be, it needs more water (I haven't been watering it much, now that it is looking so good)? Could it be the frost (we have had a few frosty mornings. Just in case it's the frost, I've been covering it at night. Thank you for any insight that can be offered.

- Sandy

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