Rhubarb is a long-lived perennial vegetable that is typically not grown from seed for edible purposes. Instead, gardeners purchase divisions of the rootstock, known as crowns, to establish a productive patch that can yield stalks for a decade or more. Acquiring these crowns requires knowing where to look and what qualities to seek out for a successful planting.
In-Person Retail Sources
Physical garden centers and local nurseries are reliable places to find rhubarb crowns, offering the advantage of immediate visual inspection. These establishments often carry varieties suited to the local climate, such as ‘Victoria’ or ‘Canada Red’. Shopping in person allows you to ask staff for specific regional advice on planting and care.
Big box stores and large retail chains also stock rhubarb crowns, particularly during the early spring planting season. Selection is often limited to a few common varieties, and availability is highly seasonal. Crowns sold here are frequently packaged in plastic or mesh bags, which can lead to premature drying or mold if not stored correctly.
Local plant swaps, farmers markets, and community garden sales are less conventional sources for rhubarb. Crowns purchased here are often divisions from established, healthy, local plants, offering genetic material proven to thrive in the immediate area. This method provides an opportunity to support local gardeners and potentially acquire heirloom varieties.
The primary drawback of in-person purchasing is the limited window of availability, as crowns are primarily sold when dormant in early spring or late fall. If you miss this seasonal window, the supply may be exhausted until the next planting cycle.
Online and Mail-Order Nurseries
For gardeners seeking specific or less common cultivars, online and mail-order nurseries provide a much broader selection than brick-and-mortar stores. Specialized perennial nurseries and heritage plant catalogs frequently offer unique strains like ‘Glaskin’s Perpetual’ or ‘Crimson Red’. These remote vendors often have stringent quality control and specialize in shipping delicate, bare-root material.
Ordering online allows access to varieties bred for specific characteristics, such as deep red color, sweetness, or heat tolerance. Crowns are typically shipped bare-root (dormant and without soil) to minimize shipping weight and reduce the risk of pest transfer. Shipments are timed to coincide with the appropriate planting season in the customer’s region, often resulting in an early spring delivery.
A consideration for mail-order services is the inability to inspect the product until it arrives, and shipping costs can be significant. Bare-root crowns can experience shipping stress, which may temporarily slow their establishment. Adhering to the company’s specific seasonal shipping windows is important, as planting outside the recommended dormant period can compromise the crown’s health.
Selecting Healthy Rhubarb Crowns
A successful rhubarb patch depends on selecting crowns that exhibit specific characteristics of health and vigor. A healthy crown should feel firm and solid to the touch, indicating good moisture retention and structural integrity. Any signs of softness, mushiness, or a sour smell suggest rot or disease, and these crowns should be avoided.
The crown should have at least two to three prominent, pinkish-white buds, often referred to as “eyes,” which are the dormant growth points from which the stalks will emerge. A crown with multiple eyes has a greater capacity for robust growth and faster establishment compared to a smaller division with only one bud. The ideal size for a crown division is roughly fist-sized, ensuring it has sufficient stored energy to fuel the first season of growth.
The best time to acquire and plant rhubarb crowns is during their dormant season, typically in the early spring as soon as the soil is workable, or in the late fall. Purchasing crowns during this period minimizes transplant shock and allows the plant to focus its energy on root development. Proper timing maximizes the crown’s ability to establish a strong root system before the demands of the growing season begin.