When to Plant Rhubarb in Canberra, Cold / Highland Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Canberra), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Cold / Highland
In October the Cold / Highland zone normally runs 20°C by day and 7°C overnight, with about 58 mm of rain over 7 or 8 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -6.4°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 15 postcodes, SILO.
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This Rhubarb guide is written for the Cold / Highland zone, which takes in Canberra, Cooma and Bright. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Mar to May, Aug to Sep
- Days to harvest
- about 52 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Regular
- Spacing
- 90 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 5.5–6.8
Rhubarb is a cold-climate perennial grown for its tart, colourful stalks used in pies, crumbles, jams, and sauces.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Cold / Highland
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar P
- Apr P
- May P
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug P
- Sep P
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Plant crowns in autumn or late winter to early spring, not into frozen midwinter ground. Do not pick in the first year, then pull stalks from late spring to early autumn.
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How to Grow Rhubarb in Cold / Highland Australia
- Soil
- Deep, rich, well-drained soil loaded with compost and aged manure. Rhubarb is an extremely heavy feeder. Dig in generous amounts of organic matter before planting.
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 5.5-6.8
- Sunlight
- Full sun in cool climates. Afternoon shade essential in warm-temperate and marginal zones. 4-6 hours minimum.
- Spacing
- 90cm apart, 120cm between rows
- Watering
- Deep watering weekly during active growth (spring-autumn). Reduce to minimal in winter dormancy. Consistent moisture prevents stringy stalks. Drought stress causes thin, tough stalks.
- Good companions
- Onion, Cabbage, Strawberry, Broccoli, Kale
- Keep away from
- Dock (related weed, harbours pests), Rampant ground covers that compete
Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Rhubarb
Recommended Varieties
- Victoria
- Silvan Giant
- Glaskin's Perpetual
Key Challenges
- Very late spring emergence
- Short growing season
- Hard frosts can damage early growth
Pro Tips
- Superb rhubarb zone despite short season. Plants are incredibly vigorous after deep winter chill
- Protect emerging crowns from late frost with straw cover
- Glaskin's Perpetual is fast from seed and productive in cold zones
Pests and problems for Rhubarb in Cold / Highland
- Common Garden Snail Watch
- Mealybug Watch
- Slugs Watch
- Aphids Watch
- Leaf Spot Adequate spacing. Avoid overhead watering. Clean up all dead foliage in autumn. Watch
- Viral Diseases (Mosaic, Turnip Mosaic Virus) Control aphid populations. Source virus-free crowns from reputable nurseries. Do not propagate from plants showing viral symptoms. Watch
Harvesting Rhubarb
When ready: Stalks 25-40cm long, firm, and well-coloured (red, green, or pink depending on variety). Leaves fully unfurled. Stalks should snap cleanly when pulled.
How to harvest: PULL, do not cut. Grip stalk firmly at base and twist-pull outward with a slight twisting motion. Cutting leaves stubs that can rot and introduce disease to the crown. Remove leaf blade immediately (TOXIC - compost the leaves or discard, they are safe in compost). Never harvest more than one-third of stalks at once.
Storing and preserving rhubarb
How to keep it
- Freezing (raw or stewed). Wash stalks, chop into 2-3cm pieces. Either freeze raw on a tray then bag (best for crumbles/pies), or stew with minimal sugar first, cool, then freeze in portions. Raw-frozen rhubarb holds shape better when cooked later. Keeps: 12 months.
- Dehydrating. Slice stalks 5mm thick. Dehydrate at 55C for 8-10 hours until leathery. Rehydrate for baking or eat as tart snack chips. Keeps: 12 months.
- Rhubarb Jam/Conserve. Chop 1kg rhubarb, combine with 800g sugar and juice of 1 lemon. Rest overnight. Bring to rolling boil, cook 15-20 minutes until setting point (105C on thermometer or wrinkle test on cold plate). Pour into sterilised jars, seal immediately. Keeps: 12-18 months.
- Rhubarb Chutney. Combine chopped rhubarb with onion, brown sugar, vinegar, ginger, mustard seeds, and sultanas. Simmer 45-60 minutes until thick. Jar hot. Excellent with cheese and cold meats. Keeps: 12 months.
- Rhubarb Syrup/Cordial. Simmer chopped rhubarb in water until soft. Strain through muslin. Add sugar (1:1 ratio with liquid). Boil 5 minutes. Bottle hot. Dilute with sparkling water for a refreshing drink. Keeps: 6 months (refrigerated) or 12 months (water bath processed).
What rhubarb costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
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Common Questions About Rhubarb
When do you plant rhubarb in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): not recommended
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jun to Sep
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jun to Sep
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jun to Aug
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Mar to May, Aug to Sep
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Apr to Jul
- Mediterranean (Perth): May to Aug
When should I plant Rhubarb in Canberra?
Plant crowns in autumn or late winter to early spring, not into frozen midwinter ground. Do not pick in the first year, then pull stalks from late spring to early autumn.
What soil temperature do Rhubarb need?
Rhubarb germinate best when soil temperature is between 10°C and 25°C.
How do I know when Rhubarb are ready to harvest?
Stalks 25-40cm long, firm, and well-coloured (red, green, or pink depending on variety). Leaves fully unfurled. Stalks should snap cleanly when pulled.
What are the best Rhubarb varieties for Canberra?
Recommended varieties for the Cold / Highland zone include: Victoria, Silvan Giant, Glaskin's Perpetual.
What grows well with Rhubarb?
Good companion plants for Rhubarb include: Onion, Cabbage, Strawberry, Broccoli, Kale.
Are rhubarb salt tolerant?
No. Rhubarb are salt-sensitive, one of the more sensitive veggies. Use rainwater if your bore water is salty, or grow them in a raised bed of fresh mix if your soil is.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Cold / Highland zone, Canberra is its reference city.