Plant library
Vegetable
Rhubarb
Rheum rhabarbarum
Zones 3–8
The first fruit of spring — a carefree perennial for pies and crumbles.
Sun
Full sun to part shade
Water
moderate
Spacing
36 in apart
Soil
Rich, moisture-retentive
Difficulty
easy
Zones
3–8
When to plant
Mar
Apr
Oct
Timing shifts with your zone — the Genie can pin down exact dates for you.
How to care for it
A trouble-free perennial for pies. Plant crowns shallow, feed generously each spring, and never harvest in year one. Pull (don't cut) stalks and remove flower spikes. Leaves are poisonous — compost them.
Good companions
Strawberry, brassicas
Harvest
Thick red stalks in spring only, one-third of the plant at a time.
Want a plan for growing Rhubarb?
Your Genie can give exact timing and care for your zone.
