Rhubarb
A long-lived perennial planted from dormant crowns in winter; avoid harvesting in its first year to let it establish. Leaves are poisonous and must not be eaten.
- Sun
- full sun
- Water
- moderate
- Spacing
- 90cm
- Harvest
- Ready in about 1-1 years
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Grows in
- Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago, Invercargill / Southland
- Expected yield
- 1-2kg of stalks per plant once established
- Cost to grow
- ~$12 NZD
- Grocery value
- ~$35 NZD
- Companion plants
- Brassicas, Roses
- Common diseases
- Crown rot
- Common pests
- Rhubarb aphid, Slugs and snails
When to plant by region
In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson and Tasman: June-August. In Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago and Invercargill / Southland: June-July.
Growing stages
Establishment yearFirst year, no harvest
- Planted from dormant crowns in winter; do not harvest in the first year, let the plant build up its crown
- Slugs and snails can target young emerging shoots
- Crown rot risk in poorly drained, waterlogged soil
Spring growth
- Rhubarb aphid can cluster on the undersides of new leaves
- Leaves are poisonous and must never be eaten, only the stalks
- Full sun and moderate, consistent water needed for strong stalk growth
Established croppingFrom year two onward
- Crown rot can develop in wet winters, especially in heavy soil
- Rhubarb aphid can persist on foliage through the growing season
- Divide congested crowns every few years to keep production strong
Harvest
- Once established, pull rather than cut stalks, twisting gently at the base
- Yields 1-2kg of stalks per plant once established
- Always discard the poisonous leaves and never harvest more than about a third of stalks at once