Also known as pie plant, rhubarb is a beloved summer treat. And if you've wondered how to grow rhubarb in your garden, good news — it's easy!
This Is the Right Way to Grow and Harvest Rhubarb
There was a time when rhubarb could be found growing on the corner of almost every backyard vegetable garden. Even if an old garden plot has long since been abandoned, you still might find rhubarb growing and thriving there. Curious about how to grow rhubarb? Here’s what you need to know.
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What Is Rhubarb?
Rhubarb is a perennial vegetable that will live for years in a garden. It has the botanical name Rheum x hybridum or Rheum x cultorum, because most varieties today are hybrids grown for centuries. Native to parts of Europe, it’s generally hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zones 3 through 7.
We call it a perennial vegetable because we eat the stalks of the plant and it comes back from the roots every year, just like a perennial flower. But for cooking and baking, rhubarb (aptly nicknamed pie plant) is most often treated like a fruit. It has a tart or sour taste, so it’s often combined with sweet fruits like strawberries, and plenty of sugar.
Rhubarb is also a great choice for a cocktail garden.
Rhubarb Leaves Are Poisonous
The only edible part of the plant is the stem. Rhubarb leaves contain high amounts of oxalic acid, which can be harmful to humans in large amounts.
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), rhubarb is toxic to cats, dogs and horses. But because of the plant’s sour taste, animals probably won’t be interested in eating it.
Rhubarb Varieties to Grow
Often you can get starter plants from another gardener who’s ready to dig up and divide their rhubarb. Several named varieties are also available:
- Victoria features green stems tinged with red, and its sweeter, milder taste is good for cooking. While most people purchase bare root plants in early spring, you can also grow this variety from seeds.
- Crimson Red, as the name suggests, features redder stems and grows up to 3 feet tall and wide.
- Canadian Red also has red stems.
While some online sources may sell out early, you can often find rhubarb plants for sale in person or ready to ship wherever other garden plants are sold, including your favorite local garden center.
Rhubarb Care and Growing Tips
Rhubarb grows best in full sun and rich, well-drained soil. It often grows quite large, up to 3 to 4 feet tall and wide.
Planting Rhubarb
Choose a spot with quality soil. Rhubarb is a heavy feeder that stays in the soil for years, not just months, so the location is especially important. Plant in early spring after adding compost or well-rotted manure. Let new plants settle in for a year or two before harvesting the stems.
Be sure to mark where you planted your rhubarb. It’s one of the earliest veggies to emerge (at about 45 degrees), and you don’t want to disturb it while doing cleanup or other early spring garden chores.
Watering Rhubarb
Rhubarb needs about an inch of rain a week during the growing season, much like the rest of the vegetable garden. Water it during dry periods, especially the first year.
Fertilizing Rhubarb
Rhubarb is low maintenance but it loves rich soil and does best with a top-dressing of compost or aged manure each spring. Or you can add a packaged fertilizer in early spring following the directions on the label.
Harvesting Rhubarb
To pick rhubarb in the spring, grab a stem at the base of the plant and gently twist it off (don’t cut it) as close to the ground as possible. Remove the leaves right away. If left attached, the leaves can wilt and pull moisture out of the stems. Discard the leaves, which are poisonous.
Store harvested rhubarb in your refrigerator if you’re going to use it within a few days. You can also freeze rhubarb for later use.
In warmer climates, rhubarb season extends to mid-June. In colder zones, rhubarb can usually be picked until the end of June.
The flavor is best when harvested the first eight to 10 weeks of the season.
Remove Flower Stalks
If your rhubarb plant sends up a flower stalk, cut it off. You want your rhubarb to produce healthy roots and stems, not flowers. If your plant keeps producing flowers (aka bolting), consider giving it extra nitrogen fertilizer to encourage leaf growth.
Dividing Rhubarb
As a perennial plant, rhubarb will grow back from its roots each year. New growth starts at the outer edge of the crown of the roots.
If you notice your rhubarb plant seems bare in the middle or the stems are getting narrower, it’s probably time to dig it up, divide it, and replant it. Do this in early spring before you see new shoots growing. Dig up the entire clump, divide it into pieces with a sharp knife or garden spade, then replant one section.
Rhubarb is a true pass-along plant because it’s so hardy and easy to share with friends.
Rhubarb Pests
Here’s a sweet surprise for gardeners—rhubarb is rarely bothered by insects or diseases.
