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Vegetable · Polygonaceae family

Rhubarb

Rheum rhabarbarum

Full sun to part shade 0.6–1.2 m × 0.9–1.5 m Harvest April–June to −40 °C

In short a 10-second read

SunFull sun to part shade
Size0.6–1.2 m
spacing 90 cm
Water~10–14 l/m²
a week in a dry summer
PlantingNovember–March
HarvestApril–June
WinterNo winter protection

Where to plant and how much to water

Sun, soil and water.

It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average to moist soil.

Sun

Sun6 hours or more
Part shade3–6 hours
Shadeunder 3 h

Soil

acidic to neutral soil
acidicneutralalkaline
average to moisthumus-richloamyclay

Watering

Rhubarb — Watering
~10–14 l/m²a week in a dry summer
drought tolerant once establishedonly in dry spellsless when it rains

Frost

−40 °C
no winter protection

How much space it takes

Mature size.

The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).

50 cm1 m1.5 m0.6–1.2 mspread 0.9–1.5 m
0.6–1.2 m× spread 0.9–1.5 m

Plant 90 cm apart.

How to plant: singly, 90 cm apart

The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.

Calendar

Through the year.

Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.

The year at a glance

Planting: JanuaryPlanting: FebruaryPlanting: MarchPlanting: AprilPlanting: MayPlanting: JunePlanting: JulyPlanting: AugustPlanting: SeptemberPlanting: OctoberPlanting: NovemberPlanting: DecemberFeeding: JanuaryFeeding: FebruaryFeeding: MarchFeeding: AprilFeeding: MayFeeding: JuneFeeding: JulyFeeding: AugustFeeding: SeptemberFeeding: OctoberFeeding: NovemberFeeding: DecemberHarvest: JanuaryHarvest: FebruaryHarvest: MarchHarvest: AprilHarvest: MayHarvest: JuneHarvest: JulyHarvest: AugustHarvest: SeptemberHarvest: OctoberHarvest: NovemberHarvest: DecemberJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PlantingFeedingHarvest
Now, in October: nothing to do — the next job is in November.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Planting

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

bare-root: November–March

Feeding

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

March–April

Harvest

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

April–June

Feeding

Nutrition.

Rhubarb — Feeding
Horn meal

up to 100 g/m² · in 1 dose · March–April

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Pests and diseases

Common problems and what to do.

The most common problems in Central Europe. Protection is listed from the gentlest option.

What you will see

Colour change and distortion of leaves, shoots, stems and flowers.

When to look

Varies

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Remove weeds: they are a reservoir of viruses.
    • After handling diseased plants, wash your hands and tools.
    • Propagate only from plants that are not under suspicion; buy certified material.
  2. By hand when damage is significantDispose of a plant that is clearly harmed by it. There is no chemical control against viruses.
Plant virusesdisease · varies

What you will see

Colour change and distortion of leaves, shoots, stems and flowers.

When to look

Varies

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Remove weeds: they are a reservoir of viruses.
    • After handling diseased plants, wash your hands and tools.
    • Propagate only from plants that are not under suspicion; buy certified material.
  2. By hand when damage is significantDispose of a plant that is clearly harmed by it. There is no chemical control against viruses.
More about this problem

What you will see

Irregular holes in soft leaves and young shoots and slime trails; they feed at night.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Water in the morning, not the evening (evening watering helps them move around).
    • Encourage their natural enemies: birds, hedgehogs, toads, ground beetles.
  2. By hand evening, after rainPick them off by hand on damp evenings and take them far away. Traps: hollowed-out citrus halves placed cut side down, or sunken containers of beer; check in the morning.
  3. Biological when the soil is warm and moistSlug-specific nematodes (from a biological control supplier) are watered into the soil.
  4. Chemical — only when nothing else helps according to the product labelLast resort only: a product authorised in your country against slugs and snails. Try non-chemical methods first.
Slugs and snailspest

What you will see

Irregular holes in soft leaves and young shoots and slime trails; they feed at night.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Water in the morning, not the evening (evening watering helps them move around).
    • Encourage their natural enemies: birds, hedgehogs, toads, ground beetles.
  2. By hand evening, after rainPick them off by hand on damp evenings and take them far away. Traps: hollowed-out citrus halves placed cut side down, or sunken containers of beer; check in the morning.
  3. Biological when the soil is warm and moistSlug-specific nematodes (from a biological control supplier) are watered into the soil.
  4. Chemical — only when nothing else helps according to the product labelLast resort only: a product authorised in your country against slugs and snails. Try non-chemical methods first.
More about this problem
Sources (3)

Bed neighbours

Good and bad neighbours.

Each neighbour shows how we know it.

✓Good neighbours

Frequently asked

Quick answers.

When is rhubarb harvested?

In April–June.

Does rhubarb tolerate shade?

It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.

How much space does rhubarb need?

At maturity 0.9–1.5 m wide and 0.6–1.2 m tall; recommended spacing 90 cm.

Plant viruses — what can you do?

Remove weeds: they are a reservoir of viruses. Dispose of a plant that is clearly harmed by it. There is no chemical control against viruses.

Slugs and snails — what can you do?

Water in the morning, not the evening (evening watering helps them move around). Pick them off by hand on damp evenings and take them far away. Traps: hollowed-out citrus halves placed cut side down, or sunken containers of beer; check in the morning.

Sources (9) Checked 27 October 2026

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