Am I Taking Good Care Of My Rhubarb?

Is your rhubarb planted somewhere where it can get four to six hours of sunlight each day?

Is your rhubarb planted in well-drained soil, rich in organic matter?

Do you water your rhubarb regularly?

Do you live in a zone with a warm climate and grow rhubarbs outside?

Did you fertilize your rhubarb with chemical fertilizer?

Did you harvest your rhubarb in its first growing year?

Are you keeping your garden with rhubarbs free of weeds?

Rhubarb tends to produce best when planted in full sun. However, plants in the warmer growing zones usually benefit from some afternoon shade, especially during the hottest months of the year. Too much shade can result in thin stems.

Rhubarb prefers a slightly acidic soil pH of around 5.5 to 6.5. Also, it likes soil that's high in organic matter, which helps to support its growth. The soil should be moist but well-draining. If you have heavy soil, such as clay, consider planting your rhubarb in raised garden beds to provide the appropriate growing environment.

Rhubarb likes consistent moisture. While mature plants can be somewhat resistant to drought, rhubarb in its first two years of growing needs regular watering. However, don't overwater rhubarb, as the crown can rot in wet soil. A good rule is to water the plant when the top inch of soil dries out.

Rhubarb likes climates in which the average temperature is below 40 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter and below 75 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. It can be grown as an annual in warmer areas but too much heat can cause it to have thin stalks and leaves.

Rhubarb needs lots of organic matter, such as compost, in the soil to grow well. However, don’t add any chemical fertilizer to a young rhubarb plant, as the nitrates can kill it. You can add an organic fertilizer around your plant at the start of its second growing season.

Don't harvest any rhubarb in your plant's first growing season to allow it to become established. You can take a small harvest in the second growing season. During the third season, you can harvest rhubarb for around one month. And after the third year, you can harvest whenever there are stalks ready for picking. However, if you're growing rhubarb in a warm climate as an annual, you can harvest all you want the first year because the plant likely won't survive a second year.

Good job! You are taking good care of your rhubarb.

You should keep weeds away from your rhubarbs. Insects and diseases won’t bother rhubarb plants as long as you keep the plants weed-free. Also, prevent crown rot by maintaining a good watering practice, watering only when the top inch of soil dries out.