If you’re dreaming of ruby-red rhubarb stalks bursting with sweetness and flavor, there’s one thing you must stop doing. Many gardeners—beginners and seasoned pros alike—unknowingly stunt their rhubarb by making a simple but critical mistake. The good news? It’s easy to fix, and once you do, your rhubarb will reward you with lush, thick stalks and a harvest worth bragging about.
Let’s dig into the most common rhubarb-growing blunder and how to grow rhubarb like a total pro.
The Mistake: Harvesting Rhubarb Too Soon (or Too Often)
Here’s the deal—rhubarb is a perennial, but it needs time to get established. The biggest mistake gardeners make? Harvesting stalks during the plant’s first year of growth.
Doing this puts stress on the plant, weakens the root system, and ultimately leads to smaller, thinner stalks for years to come.
Why This Matters
Rhubarb relies on its big, leafy canopy to soak up sunlight and feed the crown (that thick base just below the surface). When you yank stalks too early or too often, you’re robbing the plant of its energy-making power. That means less energy stored in the roots, and weaker growth next season.
What You Should Do Instead
Let’s break it down step-by-step so your rhubarb thrives from year one:
✅ Year 1: Hands Off!
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Don’t harvest anything the first year.
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Let the plant grow freely so it can build a strong root system.
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Focus on watering, mulching, and keeping weeds at bay.
✅ Year 2: Light Harvesting Only
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You can take a few stalks—no more than 1/4 of the plant.
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Always pull the outermost stalks and leave the center intact.
✅ Year 3 and Beyond: Full Harvest Mode
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Now’s the time to go all in. You can harvest for up to 8 weeks.
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Pick stalks when they’re 10–15 inches long and thick like celery.
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Stop harvesting by midsummer so the plant can recover.
Bonus Tips for Bigger, Better Rhubarb
Avoiding early harvesting is the big one, but here are a few more game-changing tips to grow rhubarb like a champ:
