My rhubarb did not grow or produce at all last year.

I transplanted my rhubarb in the spring of 2016, thinking it would grow great guns last year. It didn't do anything! Any ideas on a good start this spring?

  4 answers
  • DW DW on Jan 01, 2018

    rhubarb likes a good compost fertilizer until it gets going; chemical fertilizers can be harmful the first season. I don’t know why, that’s what the plant people at the local university say. after the first year they say use a hi nitrogen fertilizer early spring just after last frost. I do know rhubarb grows best in cool weather, not so good in hot southern states, it grows but not nearly as well

    • Sam Smith Georgen Sam Smith Georgen on Jan 13, 2018

      Thank you for your information... when I transplanted, it went into a raised bed that was filled with topsail from my local greenhouse, and I also added compost from my city landfill (They make compost year round from green waste). I first thought maybe the soil was too hot from both the soil and compost, but the second year it didn't do anything either, and I didn't fertilize the second year, so it's had no chemical fertilizers for years now. Since it's been 2 years from when I transplanted it, I will try a high nitrogen fertilizer this spring and see what happens. I am in northern Wyoming and usually rhubarb does great here. MY next door neighbor had rhubarb that was almost waist high last year! I was jealous! Maybe I'll try some cow or sheep fertilizer this year on it too.... again, thanks for the input!

  • Cheri Schumacher Cheri Schumacher on Jan 02, 2018

    DW is correct about the fertilizer. We use compost, that we take out of our compost bin, and we usually buy several bags of cow or sheep fertilizer, for our garden, and put some on the rhubarb. It seems to work just fine. Good luck.

  • Cheri Schumacher Cheri Schumacher on Jan 13, 2018

    Actually, sheep or rabbit, is the best. If you know someone that raises rabbits, that would be great.


    • Sam Smith Georgen Sam Smith Georgen on Jan 13, 2018

      Years ago I knew some, thru 4-h, but that was years ago. Might do some looking tho.... thanks again!