When is the best time to plant rhubarb?
When is the best time to plant rhubarb?
Spring is the best time to plant rhubarb in Iowa. Plants can be purchased at garden centers or from mail-order catalogs. Digging and dividing large existing plants is another source of plants.
Plants growing in containers should be planted at the same depth as they are currently growing in their pots. Bare-root plants should be planted with the buds 1 to 2 inches below the soil surface.
Dig and divide large plants in early spring before growth starts and as soon as the soil can be worked easily. Dig deeply around the rhubarb clump and lift the entire plant out of the ground. Divide the clump into sections by cutting down through the crown between the buds. Each division should contain at least 2 or 3 buds and a large portion of the root system. Replant the divisions as soon as possible.
Rhubarb plants should be spaced 3 feet apart.
Learn more about rhubarb in this article: Growing Rhubarb in Iowa
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