Rhubarb

[Fae]

I have been thinking about planting rhubarb and what do you think is in the new issue of BWH. That's right, Jackie Clay talking about good old pie plant. I don't even know if it will grow ok here in the deep south. Do any of you grow it? According to Jackie, you need to start with plants because seed would take years. I priced some at Johnny's Seeds and they are $25 for a couple plants(that are out of stock until March) so I need some input before I decide to try it. I will have to build another raised bed for it because they don't like wet feet.

[Paquebot]

Rhubarb is usually listed as for zones 3 to 8. It needs a cold dormant period in order to survive. That's why most of the better varieties have been developed in Canada.

Marin

[Sandhills]

My mother did grow it successfully in zone 9. I think she put it in a cooler spot in the yard where it got afternoon shade. I don't think it got nearly as big as mine does here in Nebraska. But she did have a little bit of fresh rhubarb.

[madness]

I'm trying rhubarb for the first time here in the hot south (zone 8b, but the summers are really hot and dry). I found an article about growing them as annuals. I planted seeds indoors in Sept and now have nice and healthy young plants. So far so good, but I won't really know until the spring whether or not it was really successful. Here's the info:

http://www.texasgardener.com/pastiss...3/rhubarb.html

[mommagoose_99]

I am in the north but here is a great place to buy plants. I am going to buy 50 for a new bed this year. Nourse.
Linda

[mnn2501]

50?? Do you own a pie factory? We had 2 when we lived in WI and couldn't give it away fast enough.

[Fae]

Thanks for the help. I am going to give it a try and just try for maybe a shadier spot during the hottest part of the day.

[mommagoose_99]

I am going to see if I can keep it going all summer by mulching some heavy and slowly letting it come up. I know a guy in Massachusetts that sells rhubarb from Spring until September. I have to do it too Big demand for rhubarb at my market.
Linda

[Earthbound]

They grow great in very large pots or barrels. Mine easily had 2ft stalks on it when grown in a half oak barrel. You can also get those wheely things to put under pots to move them around from sun to shade.
corry

[Fae]

I think they will get enough chill time in the winter but my worry is the heat and humidity of july and august. Maybe I will buy some shade cloth and a small occillating fan to keep the air moving around them. I just plan to do a 4' square raised bed. What kink of fertilizer do they like?

[springvalley]

It grows here on our farm in Illinois very well, my dear wife can`t stand it but cans it for me anyway. It will love good ole fasion composted cow manure. Good luck Marc.

[jnap31]

Jackie clay is over paid and over rated IMHO. I started rhubarb from seed two years ago and now I have lots of mature plants that cost me practically nothing. harvested some the next spring after sowing. Here is a tip start seeds early in the spring and make sure you keep them watered when it starts to get dry or they will die.

[MN Gardener]

My MIL has a hard time giving it away! It grows so well.

[ChristieAcres]

In PNW zone 8b and it grows very well here! I wouldn't recommend planting the seeds. Easy enough to get rhubarb from other HTer's or sources online. I am with some of the others... If you aren't selling, U won't need many plants.

[Use Less]

I have 15 plants which grow hip-high & some stalks as big around as my wrist. I pick roughly May 15-July 15, then again in September-October. Our spring was wet and summer cool, so I could have picked straight through. I don't do anything except keep down the weeds & hand-pick curculios. SUe