Episode 41: Growing Rhubarb In The South

About This Episode

In this episode of Ask Grumpy, Steve Bender, also known as Southern Living's Grumpy Gardener, gives one reader tips for growing rhubarb. Plus, Grumpy’s Gripe of the Week for all his followers.

Question Of The Week

We moved to Greenville, South Carolina, from California where we picked rhubarb all year long. We just planted some here, and so far it's doing well. Is there anything I need to do to help it through the winter?

Grumpy Gardener Answer: Rhubarb doesn't like the long, hot summers and the short mild winters we have here in the South. It likes to have long, cold winters. So if you're going to grow it here, my advice is: treat it as an annual. And what you do, go to the garden center or, whatever source that you have. and get divisions, and set them out in the fall and then you will be growing through the winter the stalks. What you do is you set out the divisions in fall, let them grow. They'll send out the stalks in the springtime.

And then you set out new divisions in fall. Now since you've already set out your divisions, the only thing that you really have to do at this point is, I would give them some fertilizer. I would use an organic fertilizer, something like Espoma Plant-tone or Dynamite or DR. EARTH and follow the label directions. And then just let them grow this fall. After you have a freeze, and the leaves turn brown, cut every thing to the ground. Throw the leaves away, and then put a nice thick layer of mulch on top the plant. That'll keep the roots cool as long as possible. And hopefully, come spring, you'll see your rhubarb

Grumpy's Gripe Of The Week

Okay, now I just want to say to all my fans out there, all my listeners and readers, I love you guys and you know, I couldn't do what I do without you and I'm very, very grateful. But there's some of you out there that do something that really ticks me off, okay? Now you know I have a Grumpy Facebook Page. And about every week, I will pick out a plant that I think is really cool, and you'll think it's cool too. And so I'll put a picture of it on there, and I'll write a little post. And the post will have like, five sentences in there. And in those five sentences, I will tell you everything that you need to do in order to succeed with that plant. I'll tell you how big it gets, how much light it gets, how much water it needs, what kind of soil, when to prune it, and when to buy it, right? Everything you need. And then I come back the next day, and there's 300 comments and the first 200 say, "How big does it grow?"

Please, do your Grumpy Gardener a favor. When I write something at the top, and I give you vital information, please read that. And then, if there's something I left out, go ahead, give me your comments, and I will graciously answer them 100% correctly.

About Ask Grumpy

Ask Grumpy is a podcast featuring Steve Bender, also known as Southern Living’s Grumpy Gardener. For more than 20 years, Grumpy has been sharing advice on what to grow, when to plant, and how to manage just about anything in your garden. Tune in for short episodes every Wednesday and Saturday as Grumpy answers reader questions, solves seasonal conundrums, and provides need-to-know advice for gardeners with his very Grumpy sense of humor. Be sure to follow Ask Grumpy on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen so you don't miss an episode.

Editor’s Note: Please be mindful that this transcript does not go through our standard editorial process and may contain inaccuracies and grammatical errors.