When to plant Rhubarb in Temperate Australia

Temperate zone — applies to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Newcastle and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Cool · Tropical · Subtropical · Arid.

In temperate Australia, sow rhubarb direct from August through to January. The seed goes in 10 mm deep and germinates quickly — within 5–10 days — but the plant itself is a slow builder, needing 100–140 days before it's established enough to spare its first stems. Rhubarb is unusual in the vegie patch: a perennial you sow once and harvest for years, so give it a permanent bed with rich soil and room to spread, 40–50 cm between plants. Remember that only the stalks are edible — the leaves contain oxalic acid and must never be eaten, so trim them off at harvest and compost them.

Sowing calendar — temperate zone

Green months are your sowing window: August to January.

Growing notes

Rhubarb rates as frost tender while it's young, and temperate zones can cop frosts as late as mid-October. August and September sowings are best made in a warm, sheltered corner or under a cloche until the frost risk passes; from November onwards, seedlings grow away in genuinely safe weather. January sowings also work, but they need attentive watering through late-summer heat and should be well established before the first autumn frosts arrive around May.

Because the plant stays put for years, bed preparation is worth doing properly. Dig deep and load the soil with compost or aged manure — rhubarb is a heavy feeder — and choose full sun, with some afternoon shade in hotter districts. Mulch generously and keep water up through summer, as heat-stressed plants throw flower stalks that should be removed on sight.

The main failure with seed-grown rhubarb is impatience. Harvesting hard in the first season starves the crown before it has built reserves: take little or nothing in year one, then in later seasons pull (never cut) the outer stems with a twist at the base, always leaving at least half the plant standing. Treated that way, a plant sown this spring will still be producing a decade from now.

Rhubarb at a glance

Common questions

When do you plant rhubarb in Australia?

In temperate zones, sow seed direct from August through to January, 10 mm deep. Protect early sowings from late frosts, which can occur until about mid-October.

How long does rhubarb take to grow from seed?

Germination is quick at 5–10 days, but plants need 100–140 days to establish before a first light picking. Harvests improve substantially in the second year and beyond.

Can you eat rhubarb leaves?

No. Rhubarb leaves contain oxalic acid and are toxic — only the stalks are edible. Trim the leaves off at harvest and compost them.

Why are my rhubarb stalks thin?

Thin stalks usually mean a young plant, over-picking, or hungry soil. Ease off harvesting, always leave at least half the stems, and feed the bed generously with compost or manure.

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