Grow Your Own Rhubarb: A Frugal Gardener’s Guide to Endless Harvests

Why Rhubarb is the Ultimate Budget-Friendly Garden Plant

Looking to save money while growing delicious, nutritious food? Growing your own rhubarb is one of the smartest moves for any frugal gardener.

This hardy perennial vegetable practically takes care of itself, rewarding you with endless harvests of tart, tasty stalks for years to come.

Whether you’re dreaming of a lush rhubarb patch or simply want to stretch your grocery dollars, this guide will walk you through how to plant rhubarb, care for it, and keep it producing season after season.

With budget gardening tips, cheap ways to get started, and practical advice, you’ll discover that growing homegrown rhubarb isn’t just easy—it’s downright rewarding for your wallet and your table.

1️⃣ Why You Should Grow Rhubarb in Your Backyard Garden

There’s a reason rhubarb is called a gardener’s “forever plant.” Once established, a single rhubarb patch can produce for 10–20 years with minimal care. Talk about a return on investment!

Here’s why this perennial vegetable deserves a spot in your backyard garden:

Low-maintenance: Plant it once, and it keeps coming back year after year.
Cold-hardy: Rhubarb thrives in chilly climates where other veggies fail.
Big yields: Mature plants can produce up to 5-10 pounds of stalks each season.
Money-saving: Skip pricey store-bought rhubarb and enjoy an endless rhubarb harvest from home.

✅ Frugal Fact: Rhubarb can be split every few years, so you can grow even more plants without spending a dime—perfect for cheap gardening tips lovers!

2️⃣ How to Start Your Rhubarb Patch on a Budget

Want to know the secret to starting a thriving rhubarb garden without breaking the bank? It’s all about sourcing smart and planting right.

💸 Affordable Ways to Get Rhubarb Crowns

Split from friends or neighbors: Rhubarb multiplies—most gardeners are happy to share!
Check local plant swaps or garden clubs: Many offer free or low-cost rhubarb crowns.
Look on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist: Often available for just a few bucks.

When choosing a spot, pick a sunny location with well-drained soil. Rhubarb likes room to spread—plan for at least 3 feet between plants so it can flourish.

✅ Budget Tip: Amend your soil with free compost to boost nutrients without buying pricey fertilizers.

💡 Warm Climate Note: If you live in zones 7 or warmer, rhubarb may struggle with heat. Plant in partial shade, use mulch to keep roots cool, and choose heat-tolerant varieties like ‘Victoria’ or ‘Canada Red.’

3️⃣ Planting & Caring for Your Rhubarb: Easy, Affordable, Reliable

How to Plant Rhubarb for Long-Term Success

Dig a hole 1-2 feet deep and wide.
Mix in compost or aged manure (free if you DIY it!).
Place the crown with buds facing up, 1-2 inches below the surface.
Water well and cover with mulch to retain moisture.

✅ Frugal Gardening Care Tips

Water deeply once a week (more during dry spells).
Mulch yearly—but avoid piling mulch directly against the crown to prevent rot.
Remove flower stalks to keep energy in the roots.

❌ Common Mistake: Don’t harvest during the first year! Let the plant establish itself for future bumper crops.

✅ Use natural pest control—rhubarb is generally pest-resistant, but rhubarb curculio beetles can occasionally bore into stalks. Handpick them or remove affected stalks to stop spread.

4️⃣ Harvesting Rhubarb: Picking for Peak Flavor and Productivity

You’ve waited patiently—now comes the fun part: your first rhubarb harvest! But timing and technique matter.

When Can You Start Harvesting?

Wait until the second year of growth before harvesting.
Stalks should be 12-18 inches long and firm.

How to Harvest Without Hurting the Plant

Grab the base of the stalk and gently twist while pulling to pop it free.
Avoid cutting the stalks with a knife—it can invite disease.
Never harvest more than ⅓ of the plant at once (or up to ½ for vigorous plants) to allow continued growth.

⚠️ Important: Never eat stalks if they’ve been exposed to a hard frost—freezing releases higher oxalic acid levels into the stalks, making them unsafe to consume.

✅ Quick Post-Harvest Tip: Immediately trim off the toxic leaves and discard or compost them. Leaving them on can cause oxalic acid to migrate into the stalks.

5️⃣ Keep Rhubarb Thriving for Endless Harvests

For truly endless rhubarb harvests, a little TLC goes a long way.

Frugal Maintenance Tips

Every 4-5 years, divide your rhubarb crowns to rejuvenate tired plants and multiply your patch for free.
Topdress with compost or organic fertilizer each spring to keep nutrients flowing.
In colder zones, cover plants with a thick layer of mulch after the first frost for winter protection.

✅ Remember: rhubarb leaves are toxic if eaten—but they’re safe to compost or use as natural weed barriers (just keep them away from pets and livestock).

💡 Companion Planting Tip: Rhubarb grows well alongside onions, garlic, and brassicas (like cabbage) but may struggle near legumes like beans or peas.

6️⃣ How to Store & Use Your Homegrown Rhubarb

Fresh rhubarb keeps in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, but it’s easy to extend the harvest:

Freeze it: Chop stalks into 1-inch pieces and freeze on a baking sheet before transferring to bags.
Can it: Make jams, sauces, or pie fillings to enjoy all year.
Bake it: Rhubarb crisps, muffins, and bars are easy, frugal desserts.

✅ Recipe Roundup: Check out our favorite Budget101 rhubarb recipes !

7️⃣ Bonus for the Advanced Gardener: Take Your Rhubarb to the Next Level

Already growing rhubarb and want to get even more out of your rhubarb patch? Here are expert-level tips:

👉 Try Forcing Rhubarb for Early Harvests

Cover crowns with an overturned bucket, large pot, or forcing jar in early spring to block light and trap warmth. This encourages tender, pale-pink stalks weeks earlier than normal.

✅ Forced rhubarb is milder and sweeter—perfect for desserts!

👉 Mind Your Mulch (Less Is More!)

Don’t pile mulch right against the crown—it increases the risk of crown rot. Keep a few inches clear around the base to let it breathe, especially in wet climates.

👉 Know Your Soil pH

Rhubarb thrives in slightly acidic soil (pH 6.0–6.8). Use compost, sulfur, or coffee grounds to adjust alkalinity naturally.

👉 Don’t Rush Post-Division Harvesting

If you divide rhubarb, wait one full season before harvesting new plants to let them rebuild energy.

👉 Seed Growing: A Patience Game

While rhubarb is usually grown from crowns, you can grow it from seed—just know it takes 2-3 years to mature and seeds don’t always produce true to type.

8️⃣ Printable Rhubarb Growing Guide: Your Quick Reference Cheat Sheet

Want to keep these tips handy? Download our free printable Rhubarb Growing Quick Guide to stick on your fridge or garden shed for easy reference!

📌 Love this Guide to Growing Rhubarb? Pin it!

Conclusion: Rhubarb = The Frugal Gardener’s MVP

With its low-maintenance care, ability to produce for decades, and budget-friendly startup, rhubarb is truly a gardener’s dream for anyone looking to save money and grow delicious food at home.

👉 Ready to start your own homegrown rhubarb patch? Share your plans or tips in the comments below—and don’t forget to check out our cheap gardening tips, companion planting guides, and rhubarb recipes on Budget101!