How to Care for Rhubarb

Overview

Rhubarb has a quirky name and nature. The name not only describes the plant but also has another meaning---it's slang for a heated quarrel or a brawl. As for its nature, rhubarb is a vegetable that's often used as a fruit, and it's a perennial, meaning it keeps coming back to your garden year after year.

Step 1

Buy rhubarb crowns or divide the ones in your garden when you first see buds in the early spring. Use a sharp knife to divide them, and make sure each part has a bud or two and a couple of inches of roots. Place in the ground immediately after dividing.

Step 2

Find a location in full sun or partial shade. Plant rhubarb crowns on raised beds in soil fortified with compost or rotted manure. These supplements will help ensure adequate drainage so the crowns don't rot. Plant 4 to 5 inches deep and at least 3 feet apart to avoid crowding.

Step 3

Apply a complete fertilizer when you plant in spring and again in late autumn. Put it around the plant but not touching the crown. Water enough to keep the soil moist, but don't flood the plants.

Step 4

Wait until the second year to harvest your rhubarb. From late spring into summer, harvest stems that are at least an inch wide by cutting them off at ground level.
 Leave smaller stems to help growth the following year.