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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08 Aug 15, anna (Australia - temperate climate)
My rhubarb is planted in a spot where it gets maximum sun all day. Garden bed is also elevated to improve drainage with masses of gypsum and good compost to improve clay soil. Re shade loving plants - My favourite shade loving plant is clivea - i have pale yellow flowers and red flowers in July and they brighten up a very shady area. Need snail bait though as snails love the flowers.
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25 Jul 13, Ann lee (Australia - temperate climate)
How do you prevent rhubarb going to seed
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12 Jul 13, (Australia - temperate climate)
what can be added to rhubarb when cooking to neutralize the acid
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20 Oct 13, Robert McCudden (Australia - temperate climate)
I add Arrowroot (Tapioca Flour) to the warm cooked rhubarb. Dissolve half a teaspoon, depending on amount cooked, in the juice of the cooked rhubarb. When dissolved stir into the rhubarb. Works a treat.
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04 Aug 13, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
STRAWBERRIES GO REALLY WELL WITH RHUBARB. MAKES GOOD JAM LIKE THIS AS WELL, AS IT SETS BETTER WITH THE STRAWBERRIES IN IT.
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23 Jun 13, Helen Simmons (Australia - temperate climate)
The outer leaves of my rhubarb keep falling to the ground and eventually die off. Is this normal, is there anything I can o to rectify this problem?
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08 Jun 13, Pamela (Australia - temperate climate)
Our new rhubarb plants have been growing well, BUT now some of the leaves are starting to yellow. What should we do to rectify this?. They are in soil with organic loam and horse manure mixture.
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13 Jun 13, Gene (Australia - temperate climate)
Mine do the same thing this time of the year. I've had them for about four years now and they start to look very sad when the cold weather comes. When it warms up (September) you will start to see some more positive activity. Don't forget they are very hungry plants, so plenty of fertilizer every couple of weeks in spring time will help.
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12 May 13, peter (Australia - temperate climate)
can I divide and replant rhubarb in May
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13 Apr 13, Caterine Burns (Australia - temperate climate)
The stalks keep falling down flat,do I need to hold them up with anything? they were only planted 12 months ago,I have four surviving plants out of thirty.I'm in Perth W.A.
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Hi John, I also live in Adelaide and grow rhubarb. Mine grows very well autumn to spring but suffers in summer and goes to seed heavily. I find lots of rooster booster during the growing period and water over summer keeps it growing well, also harvest heavily over the growing months. I am about to do my first cut back and divide of root this winter as I want to reclaim the area I planted and move it to a shaded area for better growing in summer and frost protection in winter. Soil preparation will be 1 part compost 2 parts in place soil heavily dosed with rooster booster. For the first 12 months I will take time to ensure the area will be kept damp all year round until established. Hope that helps.

- Daniel

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