Every Spring I received many emails from visitors to Rhubarb Central, asking for help with the question of, “Where can I buy rhubarb plants?”, and often the more urgent questions of, “I cant find any place that sells rhubarb plants, can you help?”.
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This year, and I will continue to do so each Spring, I asked this very question on Rhubarb Centrals Facebook page.
On this website page I will share information to help those looking for where to buy rhubarb in their locale.
Of course this does not mean that if the Store is listed on this page, that they sell rhubarb plants at any given time.
This does mean that someone has reported seeing that a particular Shop had rhubarb for sale.
Be sure to check local classified ads and garage and yard sales and roadside perennial plant sales for rhubarb plants too. I have personally noticed them at these places.
If you have any information regarding where to purchase rhubarb plants, please contact me and I will be happy to add them.
Can YOU Help? Many visitors to Rhubarb Central claim they cannot find Rhubarb Plants to purchase in the Spring … many of you reading this probably already grow rhubarb so you are not on the look-out for rhubarb plants, but IF you have noticed where you can purchase them … please post here … please include your State or Province, City, and the name of the Store or Garden Center. THANKS!
Here follow the replies this post has generated, as well as other helpful information sent by website visitors:
Rhubarb is a perennial vegetable that produces tasty tart stalks ideal for making pies, jams, chutneys and more. While rhubarb can be grown from seed, it takes several years before plants produce harvestable stalks. The fastest way to start growing rhubarb is by planting rhubarb crowns. But where can you find rhubarb crowns for sale if you want to grow this tasty perennial vegetable? Here’s what you need to know about purchasing rhubarb crowns locally or online.
What are Rhubarb Crowns?
Rhubarb crowns are sections of rhubarb root that can be planted to quickly establish a productive rhubarb plant Rhubarb crowns contain several buds that will sprout and grow into new rhubarb stalks and leaves. This gives them a major head start over growing rhubarb from tiny seeds
Rhubarb crowns are typically sold either as bare root crowns or potted crowns Bare root crowns are harvested while dormant and sold with the roots exposed Potted crowns have their roots enclosed in potting soil inside a container, Both provide an easy way to add rhubarb to your garden,
When is the Best Time to Plant Rhubarb Crowns?
Rhubarb crowns can be planted in early spring as soon as the ground can be worked or in fall after temperatures cool down. Spring planted crowns sometimes produce a small harvest by late summer or fall. Fall planted crowns typically don’t produce stalks until the following spring.
The key is to get them in the ground during a period of cooler temperatures. Rhubarb thrives in cool weather but hot summer temperatures can cause newly planted crowns to go dormant.
Where to Find Rhubarb Crowns for Sale Locally
One of the best places to find rhubarb crowns locally is at farmers markets in early spring or fall. Small scale produce farmers who sell at farmers markets are often a good source of perennial vegetable crowns like rhubarb, asparagus and horseradish. The crowns are usually freshly dug bare root crowns sourced from their own fields.
Independent garden centers and nurseries are another place to check for rhubarb crowns in spring and fall. Higher volume nurseries and big box stores tend to focus more on potted rhubarb plants during the main growing season. But local nurseries are more likely to carry bare root crowns in spring and fall.
Hardware stores and home improvement stores like Home Depot and Lowes sometimes stock potted rhubarb crowns seasonally as well. This gives you the convenience of buying potted crowns that can be planted anytime.
And don’t forget to ask fellow gardening friends, neighbors and community gardeners if they have any extra rhubarb crowns they’d be willing to share. Dividing mature rhubarb plants is a great way to get free crowns.
Mail Order Rhubarb Crowns are Also an Option
Can’t find rhubarb crowns locally? Consider mail ordering from online nurseries and farms. Many small scale growers sell rhubarb crowns via mail order right from their own fields.
Large online retailers like Gurney’s, Stark Bro’s and Burpee also sell mail order rhubarb crowns at reasonable prices. The crowns are usually shipped dormant in spring or fall to give them the best chance of thriving in your garden.
Mail order crowns ordered in fall may be drop shipped in early spring once they break dormancy. This avoids having to store dormant crowns over winter. Ordering by mail gives you access to a much wider selection of rhubarb varieties as well.
Choosing the Best Rhubarb Varieties
Popular rhubarb varieties like Canada Red, Victoria, Crimson Red, and Valentine offer excellent flavor, cold hardiness and productivity. Heirloom varieties boast old-fashioned rhubarb flavor. And newer hybrids like Chipman’s Canada Red give higher and more consistent yields.
For warmer climates, Hardy Tarty and Australian Crimson are heat tolerant varieties worth considering. And compact varieties like Compactum can thrive in containers.
Choosing early, mid and late season varieties can extend your rhubarb harvest. Combining red and green stalked varieties also makes pies and preserves more colorful.
How Much do Rhubarb Crowns Cost?
Expect to pay $5-15 for a single rhubarb crown from most sources. Per crown prices are usually lowest when buying in bulk quantities.
For example, crowns may cost $12 individually but just $6 per crown when purchasing 25 or more. So go in with neighbors to get bulk crowns at the best prices if possible.
Organically certified rhubarb crowns tend to cost a little bit more. As does shipping if you mail order from an online nursery. But overall rhubarb crowns are very affordable plants.
Caring for Rhubarb Crowns After Planting
Rhubarb crowns prefer full sun and well-drained fertile soil amended with compost. Space crowns 2-3 feet apart. Water new plantings regularly if rainfall is lacking.
It’s important not to overharvest during the first 2 years. Don’t remove any stalks the first year. Only take a few stalks from each plant the second year. This allows the crowns to establish a robust root system before full harvests commence the 3rd year onward.
With proper care, a single rhubarb crown can produce tasty stalks for 10 years or longer! So purchasing crowns is an inexpensive way to enjoy this cold hardy perennial vegetable.
Where to Find Rhubarb Crowns Near Me
Here are some of the top places to find rhubarb crowns close to home:
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Local nurseries and garden centers – Check for bare root crowns in spring and fall. Potted crowns are often stocked during peak growing season as well.
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Hardware stores and home improvement centers – Sometimes have potted rhubarb crowns seasonally.
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Farmers markets – Ask vendors selling produce and plants if they have rhubarb crowns for sale.
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Neighbors and gardening friends – See if they can spare divisions from their own rhubarb patches.
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Online mail order nurseries – Order crowns from online retailers to access more varieties.
So don’t wait years to grow rhubarb from seeds. Plant quick establishing rhubarb crowns and enjoy harvesting your own tasty stalks next season! Just look for bare root or potted crowns at local sources or delivered right to your door. With rhubarb crowns it’s easy to add this perennial favorite to your garden.
Where to Buy Rhubarb Plants in the United States
~ Michael Bros. Nursery & Garden Center, Western PA. They sell nice large plants.
~ High Rhubarb Organic Farm, in Black Forest, Colorado
~ Bi Mart has them Prineville, Oregon and other Bi Mart stores in US
~ Walmart in Moorhead, MN
~ Rhubarb plants for sale at the Lenox Rhubarb Festival in Lenox, MA
~ Rhubarb plants for sale at K-Mart in Niagara Falls, NY
Where to Buy Rhubarb Plants in Canada
~ Some Garden Centers and Plant Nurseries
How to Plant Rhubarb (The Right Way)
FAQ
When can you buy rhubarb crowns?
What and where to buy. Rhubarb can be grown from seed, but is more often bought as young plants – either as dormant bare-root plants (crowns) from mid-autumn to early spring, or as potted plants.
Does Home Depot sell rhubarb plants?
What should you not plant next to rhubarb?
Avoid planting rhubarb near nightshade family members like tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers, as well as cabbage family members such as broccoli and kale. These plants can compete for resources and may also be susceptible to similar diseases, potentially harming the rhubarb.
How long does it take for a rhubarb crown to grow?
Rhubarb crowns are established plants that are at least one year old. They will produce a crop in the first harvest season after planting, which is much sooner than rhubarb plants that are grown from seed. Budded pieces, meanwhile, are a portion of an established crown. These can be cropped two years after planting.