Rhubarb
Rhubarb is a vegetable in the Polygonaceae family. It grows best in full sun with medium to wet moisture, and is listed for USDA zones 3-8. Plants reach harvest about 620–840 days after planting.
Varieties
2 from Seeds Now · sorted by days to maturity▸Rhubarb Root, Crimson Cherry620–840 days
This item begins shipping in March. The Crimson Cherry Rhubarb Root (Rheum rhabarbarum) grows high yields of large ribbed, tart, ruby red rhubarb stems that can grow up to 2' tall, with the entire plant growing to 4' tall. Its most famous use is in pies or jellies, but this versatile vegetable can be used for savory recipes such as sauces, soups, chutneys, and pickles. ⚠️ Choose a permanent in-ground location for this perennial that will continue to produce for many years. It will begin producing one year after it is planted, but wait until the second year and for stalks to grow to at least 10" before harvesting. If you prefer to grow from seed, try these: Victoria Rhubarb seeds! High yields Tart and crunchy Produces for many years Enjoys cool weather
Growing notes: Botanical name: Rheum rhabarbarum|Life cycle: Herbaceous perennial|Planting season: Spring, fall|Days to maturity: 2nd year|Depth to plant roots: 2" below soil surface|Spacing between plants: 24"-48" apart|Spacing between rows: 36"-48" apart|Soil types: Sandy, loamy, rich, moist, well-drained|Soil pH: 5.5-6.8|Water needs: Average|Sun needs: Full sun|Frost tolerant: Yes|Drought tolerant: Yes|Deer resistant: Yes|Good companion plants: Asparagus, Beet, Broccoli, Catnip, Chives, Dill, Garlic, Horseradish, Mint, Onion, Sage, Thyme
View on Seeds Now ↗▸Victoria620–840 days
Direct sow; Grows well with containers; Grows well with raised beds; Start indoors; Super easy to grow
The Victoria Rhubarb variety will produce high yields of long red and green stalks Rhubarb is a pretty easy to grow in any garden and will continue to grow for many years (10 years or more) The Rhubarb plant has big green leaves and bright red stems Used to make pies and many other dessert How to Plant Rhubarb Seeds You may also like to try Rhubarb Root, Crimson Cherry
View on Seeds Now ↗
Plan your rhubarb planting
Add rhubarb to a free GardenDraft plan and get sow, transplant, and harvest dates computed for your ZIP code — with a drag-and-drop bed layout and reminders when it’s time to plant.
Start your free plan →At a glance
Storing & preserving
Most keep best refrigerated; storage crops prefer a cool, dry spot.
- Freeze: Blanch briefly, cool, then freeze — keeps color and texture.
- Can: Pressure-can low-acid vegetables; water-bath only pickled/acidified ones.
General home-preservation guidance — for tested processing times and safety, follow the National Center for Home Food Preservation.
Growing timeline
Companion planting — with cited sources
From US/Canada cooperative-extension publications and peer-reviewed studies. Evidence-tier dots show how strongly each recommendation is backed: ●●● peer-reviewed mechanism · ●● extension consensus · ● traditional knowledge with a plausible mechanism.
Pairs well with (12)
- AsparagusEvidence tier C: Traditional practice with plausible mechanism but limited empirical replicationflavor-folklore
Listed as a companion on the seed supplier's grow guide — a traditional/vendor pairing with no documented mechanism.
Source: SeedsNow.com
- BeetEvidence tier C: Traditional practice with plausible mechanism but limited empirical replicationflavor-folklore
Listed as a companion on the seed supplier's grow guide — a traditional/vendor pairing with no documented mechanism.
Source: SeedsNow.com
- BroccoliEvidence tier C: Traditional practice with plausible mechanism but limited empirical replicationflavor-folklore
Listed as a companion on the seed supplier's grow guide — a traditional/vendor pairing with no documented mechanism.
Source: SeedsNow.com
- CatnipEvidence tier C: Traditional practice with plausible mechanism but limited empirical replicationflavor-folklore
Listed as a companion on the seed supplier's grow guide — a traditional/vendor pairing with no documented mechanism.
Source: SeedsNow.com
- ChivesEvidence tier C: Traditional practice with plausible mechanism but limited empirical replicationflavor-folklore
Listed as a companion on the seed supplier's grow guide — a traditional/vendor pairing with no documented mechanism.
Source: SeedsNow.com
- DillEvidence tier C: Traditional practice with plausible mechanism but limited empirical replicationflavor-folklore
Listed as a companion on the seed supplier's grow guide — a traditional/vendor pairing with no documented mechanism.
Source: SeedsNow.com
- GarlicEvidence tier C: Traditional practice with plausible mechanism but limited empirical replicationflavor-folklore
Listed as a companion on the seed supplier's grow guide — a traditional/vendor pairing with no documented mechanism.
Source: SeedsNow.com
- HorseradishEvidence tier C: Traditional practice with plausible mechanism but limited empirical replicationflavor-folklore
Listed as a companion on the seed supplier's grow guide — a traditional/vendor pairing with no documented mechanism.
Source: SeedsNow.com
- MintEvidence tier C: Traditional practice with plausible mechanism but limited empirical replicationflavor-folklore
Listed as a companion on the seed supplier's grow guide — a traditional/vendor pairing with no documented mechanism.
Source: SeedsNow.com
- OnionEvidence tier C: Traditional practice with plausible mechanism but limited empirical replicationflavor-folklore
Listed as a companion on the seed supplier's grow guide — a traditional/vendor pairing with no documented mechanism.
Source: SeedsNow.com
- SageEvidence tier C: Traditional practice with plausible mechanism but limited empirical replicationflavor-folklore
Listed as a companion on the seed supplier's grow guide — a traditional/vendor pairing with no documented mechanism.
Source: SeedsNow.com
- ThymeEvidence tier C: Traditional practice with plausible mechanism but limited empirical replicationflavor-folklore
Listed as a companion on the seed supplier's grow guide — a traditional/vendor pairing with no documented mechanism.
Source: SeedsNow.com
Sources cited
- S46
- SeedsNow.com — vendor grow-guide companion lists (traditional/vendor knowledge, not extension-verified)
Care & troubleshooting— extension-sourced, with citations
When to feed, prune & water
Harvest rhubarb stalks only - leaves are toxic
Harvest- Routine carePull stalks and discard the leavesstrong evidence — extension confidence
Eat only the stalks (petioles): pull or twist mature stalks at the base and immediately cut off and discard the leaf blades, which contain high levels of oxalic acid and are toxic to eat. Always leave several stalks on the plant and stop heavy harvest by early summer so the crown stays vigorous.
Remove rhubarb flower and seed stalks
Pruning- Routine careCut off bolting stalksstrong evidence — extension confidence
As soon as flower or seed stalks emerge, cut them off at the base and discard them so the plant puts its energy into leaf stalks rather than seed. Frequent flowering can be a sign the crown is old or stressed and may need dividing.
Clean up debris and sanitize at season end
SanitationUnusual this time of year.
- Routine careRemove spent plants and fallen debrisstrong evidence — extension confidence
Pull and clear old plants, dropped fruit, and leaf litter at season end, since many pests and diseases overwinter in this debris; dispose of diseased material rather than composting it.
- Routine careClean tools, stakes, and cagesmoderate evidence — extension confidence
Wash and sanitize stakes, cages, and tools that touched diseased plants before storing or reusing them to avoid carrying pathogens into next season.
Divide congested rhubarb crowns and feed in spring
FeedingUnusual this time of year.
- Routine careFeed established crownsstrong evidence — extension confidence
Apply a complete garden fertilizer in spring as growth starts, per the product rate, and you can side-dress with a nitrogen source in early summer. Topdress with compost to keep the heavy-feeding crown productive.
- Routine careDivide crowded clumpsstrong evidence — extension confidence
When clumps get large and stalks turn thin, divide in early spring about 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost: dig the crown and cut it into pieces each with at least one strong bud. Dividing before clumps get too large also helps avoid crown rot.
Go easy on rhubarb harvest in the early years
HarvestUnusual this time of year.
- Routine careLet new plants build roots firststrong evidence — extension confidence
Do not harvest any stalks the planting year so the foliage can feed a developing root system, and take only a light harvest the second year. From the third year on you can harvest more fully over a several-week window in spring and early summer.
Something looks wrong?
Describe what you see on your rhubarband we'll rank the likely causes — most likely first, least-invasive fix first.
Rhubarb crown and root rot
DiseasesevereUnusual this time of year.
- CulturalImprove drainage and remove diseased crownsstrong evidence — extension confidence
Crown rot is a soilborne rot favored by wet, poorly drained sites and there is no cure once the crown is infected; dig and discard badly rotted plants and do not replant rhubarb in the same spot. Plant healthy divisions in a sunny, well-drained bed or raised mound and avoid burying the crown too deeply.
Japanese beetles
Pestmoderate- CulturalHandpick into soapy water· every 1 days · ~4 wksstrong evidence — extension confidence
In early morning when beetles are sluggish, knock them into a bucket of soapy water; daily removal also reduces the scent that draws in more beetles. Skip the lure traps, which tend to attract more beetles than they catch.
- CulturalCover plants past bloommoderate evidence — extension confidence
On crops that have finished flowering and set fruit, drape a row cover or netting to keep beetles off without blocking pollination during bloom.
Slugs & snails
Pestmoderate- CulturalTrap, hand-pick at night, reduce cover· every 2 days · ~3 wksstrong evidence — extension confidence
Pick at night with a flashlight, set shallow beer traps, water in the morning so soil dries by dusk, and clear damp hiding spots.
- OrganicIron-phosphate bait - label use only· every 1 wk · ~3 wksmoderate evidence — extension confidence
Scatter a labeled iron-phosphate slug bait sparingly per the label; it's pet- and wildlife-safer than metaldehyde.
Aphids
Pestlow- CulturalBlast off with water· every 3 days · ~2 wksstrong evidence — extension confidence
Knock colonies off with a strong jet of water in the morning; repeat every few days. Light infestations rarely need more.
- OrganicInsecticidal soap - label use only· every 1 wk · ~3 wksmoderate evidence — extension confidence
For persistent colonies apply insecticidal soap to undersides per label. Avoid open flowers.