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Vegetable

Rhubarb

Rheum × hybridum

A long-lived perennial grown for its tart stalks, planted as crowns in winter or from seedlings in spring. It needs rich soil, plenty of water in summer and some afternoon shade in hot Adelaide weather. Only the stalks are edible: the leaves are toxic.

When to plant where you live

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Planting times for other areas

Varieties (3)

  • Glaskin's PerpetualGrows from seed and crops in its first year; long harvest season
  • Sydney CrimsonRed-stemmed Australian favourite; good colour and flavour
  • VictoriaOld green-red heirloom; vigorous and productive

Neighbours

Grows well with

From seed to plate

  1. Plant

    90 cm apart, seed 50 mm deep. Full sun or part shade.

  2. Water

    Generous water in summer.

  3. Feed

    Heavy feeder: compost and manure.

  4. Pick

    Pull stalks from the second year.

Good to know

  • Don't harvest in the first year; then pull (don't cut) stalks, leaving at least a third
  • Divide old crowns every 4 to 5 years in winter
  • Compost the leaves; never eat them

Common problems

  • Crown rot in wet soilplant crowns at soil level in free-draining, raised beds
  • Thin, weak stalksfeed generously with compost and manure; don't over-harvest
  • Flower stalkscut them off at the base as they appear
  • Leaf scorch in heatwavesmulch, water deeply and give afternoon shade

If you use a garden chemical, follow the label exactly. Try organic options first, and ask the community or Plant Doctor if you're unsure.

Ask the garden helper about rhubarbAny question, answered from the plant libraryHow others are growing rhubarbQuestions, tips and harvests from the community
Where this information comes from

Reviewed by AI cross-check (Claude), not a horticulturist on 27 Oct 2026. Version 2.