Rhubarb
vegetable
Perennial stalk vegetable — do not harvest in the first year; harvest lightly in year 2; full harvest year 3 and beyond. LEAVES ARE TOXIC — never eat them; stalks only. Grows well in raised beds. Flavor improves after cold winters.
At a glance
- USDA Zones
- 3–8
- Sun
- Full sun (6+ hrs)
- Water
- Medium — water when top inch of soil is dry
- Soil
- Loam
- pH
- Acidic, neutral
- Spacing
- 36 in. between plants
- Space needed
- A 3×3 ft block of the bed
- Days to maturity
- About 365 days
Planting & harvest windows
Northern Hemisphere timing. Adjust ±4–6 weeks based on your last/first frost dates.
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Harvest |
Plant Harvest
Good companions
Recommended varieties
- Victoriastart
Classic green-and-red stalks, mild and reliable.
- Canada Redstart
Deep red stalks, sweeter than most — great for pies.
Add Rhubarb to your raised bed — the planner handles spacing and companion warnings automatically.
Open the planner →