When to Plant Rhubarb in Melbourne, Cool Temperate Guide

Sow September to October. Right now in September you can sow.

Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Rhubarb guide is written for the Cool Temperate zone, which takes in Melbourne, Hobart and Geelong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Canberra Alice Springs Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Rhubarb

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Rhubarb is a cold-climate perennial grown for its tart, colourful stalks used in pies, crumbles, jams, and sauces. It requires winter chill to break dormancy and performs poorly to dismally in tropical and subtropical Australia. CRITICAL SAFETY WARNING: Rhubarb leaves contain high concentrations of oxalic acid and anthraquinone glycosides and are TOXIC. Only the stalks are edible. Never eat the leaves.

Planting Calendar for Cool Temperate

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- - - - - - - - D D - -

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

Want a nudge when it is Rhubarb sowing time in Melbourne?

One email a week with what is worth planting in the Cool Temperate zone right now, Rhubarb included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.

Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 13.1°C (optimal range: 10–25°C) ✓ Ready to plant

Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Melbourne), not a live sensor.

How to Grow Rhubarb in Cool Temperate Australia

When to Plant

Plant crowns May-August during full dormancy. This is the ideal zone for rhubarb in 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.
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.

Companion plants: Strawberry, Garlic, Onion, Beans, Brassicas

Avoid planting near: Dock (related weed, harbours pests), Rampant ground covers that compete

Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Rhubarb

Recommended Varieties

  • Victoria
  • Sydney Crimson
  • Wandin Red
  • Silvan Giant
  • Ever Red

Key Challenges

  • Late spring frosts can damage emerging stalks
  • Slugs active on emerging growth

Pro Tips

  • Premium rhubarb zone. Expect 15-20+ year productive clumps
  • Divide clumps every 5-6 years to maintain vigour
  • Straw mulch over crowns in late autumn protects from hardest frosts

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.

Common Rhubarb Pests in Cool Temperate Zones

Fungal Spots and Insect Damage, risk: LOW (score: 33/100)

Organic prevention: Keep mulch pulled back from crown centre. Water in morning. Remove debris that provides hiding spots.

View all pest alerts →

Where to next

What rhubarb costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the cool temperate zone this September: Ginger, Sweet Corn, Chilli Peppers and Snow Peas.

The pest most likely to find your rhubarb: Mealybug.

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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:

Does rhubarb grow all year round in Melbourne?

No. In the Cool Temperate zone the planting months are Sep to Oct. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page 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 Cool Temperate zone, Melbourne is its reference city.