When to Plant Rhubarb in Cairns, Tropical Guide

Not recommended for the Tropical zone. The window below explains why.

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 Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne 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 Tropical

Rhubarb is not recommended for Tropical.

NOT RECOMMENDED. Rhubarb requires winter chill to break dormancy and produce vigorous spring growth. Tropical zones do not provide this. Plants will be weak, leggy, and short-lived if they survive at all.

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

One email a week with what is worth planting in the Tropical 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: 21.4°C (optimal range: 10–25°C) ✓ Ready to plant

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

How to Grow Rhubarb in Tropical Australia

When to Plant

NOT RECOMMENDED. Rhubarb requires winter chill to break dormancy and produce vigorous spring growth. Tropical zones do not provide this. Plants will be weak, leggy, and short-lived if they survive at all.

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

Tropical Growing Tips for Rhubarb

Key Challenges

  • No winter chill period for dormancy
  • Extreme humidity causes crown rot
  • Heat stress year-round
  • Plants will not thrive or produce worthwhile stalks

Pro Tips

  • Be honest with yourself: rhubarb will not succeed in tropical Australia
  • If you must try, treat as annual, grow from seed in the dry season, and expect disappointment
  • Consider alternatives like rosella (Hibiscus sabdariffa) which provides similar tartness in tropical climates

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.

Where to next

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

Also worth sowing in the tropical zone this September: Lemongrass, Ginger, Cucumber and Basil.

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:

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 Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.