Rhubarb is a unique perennial vegetable, often prepared like a fruit, that can provide a harvest for many years. Determining the time until the first crop depends entirely on the starting material. The growth timeline requires patience to allow the plant to properly establish itself before any stalks can be safely harvested. This approach ensures the plant remains vigorous and productive for a decade or more.
Starting Methods Determine Initial Timeline
The most significant factor in the initial growth timeline is the planting material chosen. Gardeners typically start rhubarb either from seeds or from one-year-old crowns, which are root divisions from a mature plant. Planting crowns offers the fastest route to a modest harvest, as they are essentially miniature, dormant versions of the mature plant. A one-year-old crown already possesses the initial root system and stored energy necessary for a quicker start in the garden.
Starting rhubarb from seed adds a substantial period to the overall timeline. Seeds must germinate and spend a full growing season developing into a small crown before they are ready for planting in their permanent location. This method sets the timeline back by an entire year compared to planting an established crown. Using a crown allows the gardener to begin the plant’s establishment phase immediately, bypassing the seedling development stage.
The Critical Establishment Phase
The period immediately following planting is most important for the plant’s long-term health and is dedicated to underground development. Regardless of the starting material, the plant must spend its first full year establishing a robust root system and a strong crown. This “hands-off” year is non-negotiable because the plant needs to channel all energy into these structures to support future production.
Harvesting any stalks during this first year severely depletes the plant’s stored carbohydrate reserves, which are necessary for winter survival and spring regrowth. Early harvest weakens the plant, resulting in spindly stalks and a shorter lifespan. During this phase, focus on keeping the area weed-free and ensuring consistent moisture to promote maximum root growth.
For plants started from crowns, the first minimal harvest is generally possible in the second year; seed-started plants typically require waiting until the third year. This initial wait is directly tied to the plant’s need to build a substantial energy reserve within its root system. A healthy, developing crown produces large leaves, which are visible signs of successful energy collection.
Harvesting Timelines and Plant Longevity
Once the plant has completed its establishment phase, it enters the production stage. For a crown-started plant, a light harvest can typically occur in the second year, taking only a few mature stalks to avoid stressing the root system. The first full harvest, where a gardener can take up to one-third to one-half of the mature stalks, is generally achieved in the third year.
The primary harvesting season for rhubarb is a short window, lasting approximately 8 to 10 weeks, typically from early spring until late June. Stalks are ready for harvest when they are 12 to 18 inches long and at least three-quarters of an inch thick. The proper technique involves grasping the stalk at the base and twisting and pulling it away from the crown, rather than cutting it, to prevent disease entry.
Stopping the harvest by early summer allows the plant to use the remainder of the growing season to photosynthesize and replenish carbohydrate stores before winter dormancy. A well-cared-for rhubarb plant is long-lived, often producing for 10 to 20 years. To maintain vigor and production, the crowns may need to be dug up and divided every 5 to 10 years, which restarts the growth cycle and creates new plants.