Rabarber

Rheum rhabarbarum

Engels: Rhubarb

fruitPolygonaceaeEetbaar

Rabarber (Rheum rhabarbarum) is a edible fruit plant from the Polygonaceae family that grows up to 100cm tall. This plant thrives in full sun to partial shade and requires low maintenance. Blooms in spring with white flowers and attracts bees.

Hoogte

60–100 cm

Breedte

80–120 cm

Zonligging

full sun, partial shade

Waterbehoefte

moderate

Grondsoort

loam, clay soil

Onderhoud

low maintenance

Bloeitijd

spring

Bloemkleuren

white

Ecologische waarde

Trekt bijen aan

Verzorgingskalender

Taak	Jan	Feb	Mrt	Apr	Mei	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Okt	Nov	Dec
🌱Planten
💧Bemesten
🍎Oogsten

Care tips

Planting

Rhubarb thrives in full sun or partial shade and prefers a rich, moisture-retentive soil with good drainage. Loam and clay soils suit it well, provided they don't become waterlogged in winter. Choose a permanent spot, as established rhubarb crowns can crop for ten years or more and dislike being moved. Plant rhubarb crowns (dormant root sections with at least one bud) in March, April, October, or November. Autumn planting allows roots to establish before winter, while spring planting suits heavier soils that stay cold and wet. Prepare the site by digging in plenty of well-rotted manure or garden compost to a depth of at least 30 cm, as rhubarb is a hungry feeder. Space crowns 90 cm apart to allow for their eventual spread of 80–120 cm. Plant each crown so the tip of the bud sits just below the soil surface—about 2–3 cm deep. Planting too deeply can cause the bud to rot; too shallow and frost may damage it. Firm the soil gently around the crown and water in well, even if planting in autumn. After planting, apply a 5 cm layer of well-rotted manure or compost around (but not directly over) the crown to suppress weeds and feed the soil. Keep the area weed-free, especially in the first year, as young rhubarb doesn't compete well. Water during dry spells in the first growing season to help roots establish. Avoid harvesting any stems in the first year; let the plant build strength. In the second year, take only a few stems, then harvest freely from year three onwards.

Pruning

Rhubarb doesn't require pruning in the traditional sense—you won't be shaping it with secateurs or removing woody growth. However, it does need regular attention to keep it productive and healthy. The most important task is removing flower stalks as soon as they appear in spring. Rhubarb flowers are tall, white, and branched, and they divert energy away from stem production. As soon as you spot a flowering stalk emerging from the centre of the crown, cut it off as close to the base as possible using a sharp knife or pull it out firmly by grasping low down and twisting. Do this promptly; if allowed to develop, the plant will put resources into seed production rather than the edible stems you want. After the harvest season ends in June, leave the remaining foliage in place through summer and autumn. These leaves manufacture food that the crown stores for next year's growth. In late autumn or early winter, once the leaves have died back naturally and turned brown and mushy, cut or pull them away and add them to the compost heap. This tidying prevents slugs and disease from overwintering in the decaying foliage. Every five to eight years, consider lifting and dividing congested crowns in late autumn or early spring. Dig up the entire crown, split it into sections with a spade (each piece needs at least one strong bud), and replant the healthiest divisions in refreshed soil. Discard woody, exhausted central portions. This rejuvenates productivity and gives you spare crowns to plant elsewhere or share.

Maintenance

Rhubarb has moderate water needs. Water regularly during dry spells in spring and summer, especially while stems are developing, aiming to keep the soil evenly moist but not saturated. In autumn and winter, natural rainfall is usually sufficient. Mulch around the crown each spring with a 5–8 cm layer of well-rotted manure or garden compost; this suppresses weeds, conserves moisture, and feeds the soil as it breaks down. Feed rhubarb twice a year. In March, as growth begins, apply a generous mulch of manure or a handful of general-purpose granular fertiliser (such as blood, fish and bone) scattered around each crown. In September, after harvesting has finished, apply another mulch or feed to replenish nutrients and support next year's crop. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds in autumn, as they can encourage soft growth vulnerable to frost. Rhubarb is fully hardy (zone 3a–8b) and needs no winter protection in temperate Europe. The crown dies back completely and re-emerges in spring. Overwintering is straightforward: simply clear away dead foliage in late autumn and top-dress with compost or manure. Pests are rarely a serious problem. Slugs occasionally nibble emerging shoots in spring; use organic slug pellets or barriers if damage is severe. Crown rot can occur in waterlogged soil, causing the crown to turn soft and brown—prevention is key, so ensure good drainage. Honey fungus is a rare but fatal disease; if a crown collapses suddenly, dig it out and do not replant rhubarb in that spot. Otherwise, rhubarb is a robust, low-maintenance crop that rewards minimal effort with years of reliable harvests.