Year-Round Rhubarb Care Calendar: Month-by-Month Tasks
Rhubarb practically grows itself, but the happiest, most productive patches get a little seasonal care. With a month-by-month guide, you’ll keep crowns healthy, stalks thick, and weeds and disease at bay. Here’s your year-round rhubarb checklist—soil, feeding, harvest, and troubleshooting—all in one place.
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January – February: Let Rhubarb Rest
- Inspect for waterlogging; clear any mulch covering crowns.
- Plan orders for new crowns or seeds if expanding your patch.
- In late February, begin forcing by covering crowns (if early stalks are desired).
March: Spring Awakening
- Remove any protective mulch as new buds swell.
- Weed beds and top-dress with 2–3 inches of compost or well-rotted manure (avoid covering the crown’s growing tip).
- Water if dry—especially for new plantings.
April: Growth Takes Off
- Start the first outdoor harvest (from established crowns, third year and beyond).
- Feed with a balanced, organic fertilizer.
- Keep beds moist and free of weeds.
- Begin pulling flower stalks as soon as they appear.
May – June: Peak Harvest
- Pick stalks regularly, twisting/pulling (never cutting) for the biggest, healthiest plants.
- Never harvest more than half the stalks from one crown at a time.
- Continue weeding and watch for early pest/disease problems.
- Water deeply if rain is scarce.
- Mulch again if beds dry quickly.
July: Finish Main Harvest
- Complete main harvest by late July (or mid-June in hot climates).
- Remove yellowing leaves and spent flower stalks.
- Lightly feed post-harvest and top up mulch.
- Let the plant rest and send energy to the crown for next year.
August: Rest and Recovery
- Rhubarb’s main growth slows—remove any dying or diseased leaves.
- Water in drought or continue light mulching.
- Plan new bed sites for autumn division if needed.
September: Early Autumn Prep
- Stop all harvest; let leaves die back to nourish the crowns.
- Weed and tidy beds; clear debris from around crowns.
October – November: Division and Mulching
- Once leaves die back, cut all foliage to the ground.
- Divide and replant overcrowded or tired crowns.
- Mulch with compost, straw, or leaf mold to protect crowns in winter.
- Mark new plantings clearly for spring.
December: End-of-Year Review
- Clean up beds after storms or wet spells; ensure crowns aren’t buried under heavy mulch.
- Check crowns for signs of rot or pest activity.
- Review notes on harvesting, growth, and crown health—ready your to-do list for spring.
Tips for Container Rhubarb
- Move pots to sheltered spots during hard frosts or snow.
- Lift pots onto bricks for drainage.
- Top-dress with compost or slow-release feed in early spring and after main harvest.
Wrapping Up
A little attention in each season keeps your rhubarb patch (or pot) disease-free, highly productive, and a joy to harvest year after year. Print or bookmark this calendar—healthy, hefty stalks are just a year-round habit away!