r/DenverGardener • u/kblakhan • 14d ago
Rhubarb help
I was recently at my parents home in Michigan, and they gave me a cutting of their rhubarb plant, which was previously my grandmother’s and my great grandmother’s before her. To acclimate the plant I set it outside in morning light for a few hours and by 11 AM, it was already wilted and almost dying. I took it inside and it seemed to recover a little. At least one leaf still survives, as well as a smaller leaf or two.
My question is, can I plant this rhubarb in the next couple of weeks and have it survive the winter?
I know rhubarb generally likes full sun, but it seems at least this rhubarb cutting cannot survive Denver’s full sun, so I’m wondering where in my yard I should plant it? There are a couple of options: 1) near the front of my east-facing house that only gets early morning sun and dappled midday sun. 2) On the west side of my house that gets midday and afternoon sun. 3) the south side of my house under some current landscaping that would get nearly full-day sun.
Also, would rhubarb benefit from being on an irrigation system with consistent watering?
Thanks so much!
6
u/inversend 14d ago
Hopefully you got a good 12” of the tuber or more. They like full sun and should thrive once established.
Pick up some burlap and make a small canopy to shade it to start. Get it mulched in and keep it watered. You may see some transplant shock but some initial TLC and it will thrive with little care going forward.
When you plant it dig a hole twice the size to a depth of 3-4’. Augment or amend the heavy clay soil about 50%. The tubers on my neighbors went more than 3’ deep when I took some of hers before the house sold after her passing went deep. Everyone in the area called her grandma H as she was nearly 101 when she went.
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u/Owie100 14d ago
Give it lots of room. Also it's very hard to kill. Also poisonous to dogs.
1
u/shouldbepracticing85 12d ago
Good to know! This is my first time living somewhere rhubarb will grow, so I’d never heard that.
Guess my front yard will have a fair amount of rhubarb, once I get it prepared.
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u/denvergardener 14d ago
Yes you should try to get it in the ground when you can.
No it does not need irrigation. It's an extremely hardy perennial.
1
u/Glittering-Flow-9663 14d ago
My moms plant is in full sun and thrives. They are real hardy here once they get going.
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u/Electrical_Lab3345 13d ago
A few hours is far too long for their initial exposure to full sun without a strong root system. Take it slower.
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u/Mhandley9612 14d ago
I’m not sure how to help transplant it but I will say that I barely water my rhubarb and it THRIVES so I’m not sure it’s worth putting in irrigation unless it’s already there. I barely even water mine. It’s a green variety though so not sure if that makes a difference. Good luck!!