Rhubarb: An Ancient Herb Worth Growing – Here’s How to Do It

Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum), a time-honored herb with roots in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) dating back to 270 B.C., has been revered for centuries for its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, and anticancer properties.¹

While it’s a common sight in pies and crumbles, its therapeutic potential is just as noteworthy. But the magic of rhubarb doesn’t end there.

Whether you’re an avid gardener or a curious foodie, here’s why you should consider growing rhubarb in your own garden. 

Why Your Garden Needs Rhubarb

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Rhubarb isn’t just a pie filling; it’s a versatile plant that deserves a prime spot in your garden. Here’s why:

  • A Taste of Spring (and Beyond): Rhubarb is one of the earliest edibles to emerge in the spring, providing a welcome burst of tartness after a long winter. While its peak season is spring, you can enjoy its delicious stalks well into summer. 
  • Low-Maintenance: Rhubarb is a perennial that thrives with minimal attention. Once established, it reliably returns year after year, requiring little more than occasional watering and fertilizing.
  • Nutritional Powerhouse: Don’t be fooled by its tangy taste. Rhubarb is packed with nutrients, including vitamin K, vitamin C, fiber, and manganese.(ref) It’s also a good source of antioxidants, which can help protect your body from damage caused by harmful molecules.
  • Culinary Versatility: Rhubarb isn’t just for pies. It’s incredibly versatile in the kitchen, lending its flavor to jams, sauces, crumbles, compotes, chutneys, and even savory dishes. 
  • Pollinator Magnet: The beautiful pink-red flowers that rhubarb produces in the summer are a haven for pollinators like bees and butterflies. By growing rhubarb, you’re not only enriching your garden but also contributing to the health of these essential creatures.

How to Grow Rhubarb: Getting Starter Plants

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There are three main ways to get your hands on rhubarb plants:

  1. Seeds: Rhubarb seeds can be slow to germinate and may take two years or more to produce harvestable stalks. If you’re up for the challenge, sow seeds indoors in late winter or early spring, following the instructions on the seed packet.
  2. Crowns: These are one-year-old dormant plants with established root systems. Crowns are the most popular and convenient way to start a rhubarb patch. They offer the advantage of a quicker harvest, usually within a year of planting. Look for plump, healthy crowns with at least one or two visible buds.
  3. Divisions: If you (or a friend) have an established rhubarb plant, you can propagate new plants by dividing the crown. This is typically done in early spring or fall when the plant is dormant. Carefully dig up the entire plant, separate the crown into sections, each with at least one bud and a healthy root system, and replant the divisions.

Where to Find Rhubarb Starter Plants

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You can look into these places to get your rhubarb starter plants:

  • Garden Centers and Nurseries: This is the most common and convenient place to find rhubarb crowns and divisions. Choose a reputable nursery that offers healthy, disease-free plants.
  • Online Retailers: Many online retailers specialize in vegetable plants, including rhubarb crowns. This is a great option if you have a specific variety in mind or if you can’t find what you’re looking for locally.
  • Seed Catalogs: If you’re interested in starting from seed, check out seed catalogs, both online and in print. They offer a wide variety of rhubarb cultivars, including heirloom varieties.
  • Friends and Neighbors: If you know someone with a well-established rhubarb plant, ask if they’d be willing to share a division with you. This is a great way to get free plants and expand your rhubarb network.

Choosing the Best Option

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  • Convenience: Crowns are the most convenient option, offering a quicker harvest and easy availability.
  • Cost: Divisions are the most economical choice if you have access to an established plant. Seeds are relatively inexpensive but require more time and effort.
  • Variety: If you’re looking for a specific rhubarb cultivar, seeds and online retailers offer the widest selection.

Creating the Perfect Rhubarb Habitat

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Rhubarb thrives in full sun with at least six hours of direct sunlight daily, so choose a sunny location for your rhubarb patch. Well-draining soil is crucial to prevent root rot, so amend heavy clay soil with organic matter like compost or aged manure. 

Rhubarb prefers slightly acidic soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.8,(ref) so test your soil and adjust its pH if necessary before planting.

Planting Rhubarb

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Here’s the planting process for rhubarb:

  1. Timing: The ideal time to plant rhubarb is in early spring, after the last frost has passed, or in the fall, about six weeks before the first frost. This gives the plants time to establish their roots before the heat of summer or the chill of winter.
  2. Soil Preparation: Before planting, amend the soil with compost or aged manure to improve its fertility and drainage. If your soil is heavy clay, consider building a raised bed to ensure good drainage.
  3. Spacing: Plant rhubarb crowns or divisions three to four feet apart to give them ample room to grow. Each plant will eventually develop into a large clump.
  4. Planting Depth: Dig a hole wide enough to accommodate the crown and deep enough so that the buds are just covered with soil. The crown should be level with or slightly above the surrounding soil.
  5. Planting Technique: Gently place the crown in the hole, spreading the roots out. Backfill the hole with soil, firming it gently around the roots. Water the plant thoroughly to settle the soil.
  6. Mulching: Apply a two to three-inch layer of organic mulch, such as straw or shredded leaves, around the base of the plant. This helps conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.

After Planting

  • Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during the first growing season. Avoid overwatering, as this can lead to root rot.
  • Fertilizing: Rhubarb is a heavy feeder. Apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring and again in midsummer. Avoid fertilizing late in the season, as this can encourage tender growth that may be susceptible to frost damage.
  • Weed Control: Keep the area around your rhubarb plants weed-free, as weeds compete for nutrients and water.

When to Harvest Rhubarb

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  • Year One: For rhubarb planted from crowns, it’s best to refrain from harvesting any stalks during the first year. This allows the plant to establish a strong root system and build up energy reserves for future growth.
  • Year Two and Beyond: You can begin harvesting rhubarb in the second year after planting. The harvest season typically begins in early spring when the stalks reach 10 to 15 inches in length. Depending on your climate and growing conditions, you can continue harvesting into early summer.

Signs of Rhubarb Ready for Harvest

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  • Stalk Size: Stalks should be at least 10 to 15 inches long and about 1 to 1.5 inches thick.
  • Leaf Size: The leaves should be fully developed.
  • Stalk Color: The stalk color can vary depending on the variety, but it should be vibrant and not overly fibrous.

How to Harvest Rhubarb

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  1. Grasp and Twist: Grasp the base of a stalk firmly and gently twist and pull it away from the crown. Avoid cutting the stalks with a knife, as this can introduce disease.
  2. Leave Some Stalks: Never harvest all the stalks from a plant at once. Leave at least two or three stalks on the plant to allow it to continue photosynthesizing and storing energy.
  3. Remove Flower Stalks: If you see any flower stalks emerging, remove them promptly. This will help the plant focus its energy on producing leaves and stalks.

After Harvesting

  • Trim Leaves: Cut off the leaves and compost them. Rhubarb leaves contain high levels of oxalic acid, which is toxic to humans and animals if ingested in large quantities.
  • Store or Use Immediately: Rhubarb can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week or frozen for later use.

If you’re unsure whether your rhubarb is ready for harvest, consult with a local gardening expert or your local agricultural extension service. They can provide guidance based on your specific growing conditions.

Creative Ways to Use Rhubarb

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Here are some creative ways to use this versatile ingredient:

Sweet Treats

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  • Beyond Pie: While rhubarb pie is a classic, don’t stop there! Explore other desserts like rhubarb crumbles, crisps, cobblers, muffins, cakes, and quick breads.
  • Jams and Jellies: Rhubarb’s natural pectin makes it ideal for homemade jams and jellies. Combine it with strawberries, raspberries, or ginger for added depth of flavor.
  • Compote and Sauces: Simmer rhubarb with sugar and spices to create a delicious compote or sauce. Serve it over ice cream, yogurt, pancakes, waffles, or even grilled meats.
  • Infused Beverages: Rhubarb can be used to make refreshing drinks like rhubarb lemonade, shrub (a vinegar-based syrup), or even infused cocktails.

Savory Dishes

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  • Chutney and Relish: Pair rhubarb with savory ingredients like onions, ginger, chili peppers, and vinegar to create unique chutneys or relishes. They complement grilled meats, cheese plates, or even sandwiches.
  • Savory Sauces: Rhubarb can be incorporated into barbecue sauces, glazes for roasted meats, or even savory pan sauces for chicken or pork.
  • Soups and Stews: Rhubarb’s tangy flavor adds a surprising twist to hearty soups and stews, especially when combined with lentils, chickpeas, or root vegetables.

Other Creative Uses

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  • Rhubarb Syrup: Make a simple syrup with rhubarb and sugar to add a unique flavor to cocktails, mocktails, or even sparkling water.
  • Rhubarb Wine: For the adventurous, fermenting rhubarb can create a distinctive and flavorful wine.
  • Rhubarb Vinegar: Infusing vinegar with rhubarb adds a tangy dimension to salad dressings and marinades.

Tips for Using Rhubarb

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  • Balance the Tartness: Rhubarb’s natural tartness is often balanced with sugar or other sweeteners in recipes. Start with less sugar than a recipe calls for and adjust to your taste.
  • Pair with Complementary Flavors: Rhubarb pairs well with strawberries, raspberries, ginger, orange, vanilla, and even savory ingredients like onion and ginger.

Whether you’re drawn to its nutritional benefits, its vigorous color in the garden, or the delightful tang it brings to your kitchen recipes, rhubarb is a plant worth the time and investment. 

Source:

  1. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
nancy
Author & Editor | + posts

Nancy has been a plant person from an early age. That interest blossomed into a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Nancy worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.