Planting and Growing Rhubarb in Cold-Climate Gardens

Rhubarb brings bright, tart flavor to pies, crisps, and compotes, and its thick stalks are rich in fiber, potassium, and plant acids that give zing. It thrives where winters are cold and summers are mild, making it a natural fit for northern gardens. Deep roots love moist, fertile soil, and the crowns wake after winter chill to push early spring stems. With good drainage, mulch, and simple care, a rhubarb patch can produce for 10–15 years. Use this guide for how to grow rhubarb in cold climates with practical tips and easy, reliable northern gardening advice.

Rhubarb Varieties Suitable for Cold Climates

  • ‘Victoria’: classic green-red stalks, vigorous and dependable across cool zones.
  • ‘Canada Red’: sweeter red stalks, good color for sauces and freezing.
  • ‘Crimson Red’ (also sold as ‘Crimson Cherry’): deep red, tender, strong cold hardiness.
  • ‘Valentine’: bright red stalks, sturdy plants for short-season areas.
  • ‘MacDonald’: heavy yields, good red color in cool weather.
  • ‘Holsteiner Blut’: rich red European type with excellent flavor.
  • ‘Glaskins Perpetual’: quick to establish; useful for late-season picks in cool climates.
  • Choose divisions from local hardy patches for proven cold performance and disease resistance.

Soil & Site Considerations for Rhubarb

  • Full sun is best in cold regions; light afternoon shade is fine in warm pockets.
  • Moist, fertile, well-drained loam with high organic matter supports large, tender stalks.
  • pH 6.0–6.8 is ideal; rhubarb tolerates slightly acidic to neutral soils when drainage is good.
  • Excellent drainage is critical—crowns rot in cold, wet soil. Use raised beds or mounded rows if springs are soggy.
  • Pick a permanent spot; mature plants spread wide and dislike frequent moving.
  • Avoid sites that held rhubarb recently to limit crown rot carryover; rotate after removing old plantings.

Planting and Spacing Rhubarb in Cold Regions

  • Plant dormant crowns in early spring as soon as soil is workable, or in late autumn where soils drain well.
  • Set crowns so the buds sit 2–5 cm (¾–2 in) below the soil surface; in very cold zones, plant toward the deeper end and mulch.
  • Space plants 90–120 cm (3–4 ft) apart in rows 1.2–1.8 m (4–6 ft) apart to allow big leaves and airflow.
  • Water well after planting and mulch 5–8 cm (2–3 in) with clean straw or wood chips to hold moisture and reduce weeds.
  • Do not harvest in year one; take a light picking in year two, then full harvests from year three onward.
  • Remove flower stalks when they appear so the plant keeps energy for edible stems.

Companion Plants for Rhubarb

  • Good companions include strawberries, chives, garlic, calendula, borage, and alyssum for pollinators and gentle pest balance.
  • Early greens like spinach and lettuce fit between young plants before rhubarb expands.
  • Avoid crowding with tall, thirsty crops that shade leaves or compete for moisture.
  • Keep beds weed-free; shallow feeder roots dislike grass competition around the crown.

Watering & Fertilizing Rhubarb

  • Provide 2.5–4 cm (1–1½ in) of water per week, more in dry, windy spells; steady moisture prevents tough, stringy stalks.
  • Top-dress with 2–3 cm (¾–1 in) of compost in early spring and again after main harvest.
  • Use a balanced fertilizer at modest rates (for example 5-5-5 or 4-3-8) in early spring; avoid heavy nitrogen that softens tissue.
  • Mulch to keep soil cool and moist, but keep mulch slightly back from the crown to prevent rot.

Extending the Season for Rhubarb

  • Force early stems by placing an overturned black pot or forcing jar over established crowns in late winter; harvest blanched stalks a few weeks earlier.
  • Use lightweight row cover or a cold frame to warm soil in spring and speed early growth.
  • In very cold, exposed sites, add a loose winter mulch after the ground freezes to protect crowns, then pull mulch back as growth begins.
  • Divide and replant vigorous crowns every 6–8 years to maintain strong yields.

Rhubarb Crop Calendar

  • High-Latitude: plant crowns late May to early June; first light picking in year two June to July; main harvest in later years late June to August; divide crowns in early June when soils warm.
  • Boreal: plant mid May; harvest lightly in year two June to July; full harvest late May to July; stop harvesting by midsummer so plants rebuild reserves.
  • Cool-Temperate: plant April to May (or October in well-drained soils); harvest May to July; forcing can start in late winter for April picks.

Mistakes to Avoid When Growing Rhubarb

  • Harvesting in the first year, which weakens young plants and delays establishment.
  • Planting crowns too deep or in poorly drained soil, leading to crown rot.
  • Overharvesting; always leave at least one-third of stalks to power regrowth.
  • Allowing flower stalks to stand; energy shifts from edible stems to seed.
  • Skipping mulch and steady water, which produces thin, stringy petioles.
  • Eating the leaves; they contain high oxalates and are not edible—harvest stalks only.

Sustainability Checklist

  • Establish long-lived perennial beds to reduce tillage and soil disturbance.
  • Feed soil life with annual compost and maintain mulch to save water and suppress weeds.
  • Capture roof or tunnel runoff for deep, occasional irrigation that encourages strong roots.
  • Propagate by dividing healthy crowns to share locally adapted plants.
  • Foster biodiversity with flowering borders that support pollinators and beneficial insects.
  • Retire declining clumps to a compost area and rotate sites to keep soils healthy.