While rhubarb is often propagated from root divisions, growing rhubarb from seed is a much more economical method. Many commercial rhubarb plants available from nursery catalogs are just seedlings grown out for a year or two.
There are hundreds of rhubarb seedlings you can grow from one nursery rhubarb plant if you just wait.
Like many perennials, rhubarb doesn’t come true to seed. Apples are the same way. You can grow apples from seeds, but you never know what you’ll get.
Any plant’s seeds will grow plants that are different from the parent, but that’s not always a bad thing. Every variety we know and love today was once a seedling, and it’s just been propagated ever since.
Unlike apples, which can be really different from their parents, rhubarb seedlings are only subtly different. Most of the time, only a real rhubarb expert can tell the difference.
Victoria Rhubarb, a type of heirloom rhubarb, is known for coming true to seed. It’s one of the most popular types of garden rhubarb in the Northeast.
Still, I was skeptical. I have always loved rhubarb, but I didn’t know that one of our nearby commercial farms grows all of theirs from seed for their CSA and market sales. This farm is run by a friend of mine. She told me that they were going to add rhubarb to their spring CSA and had just put in 1,000 plants.
I was impressed at the cost savings, but still skeptical. I forgot all about it, until about 3 years later when I stopped by her farmer’s market booth.
Sure enough, there was a full stand of rhubarb. I had to know, so I bought some…and it was absolutely delicious.
That summer I saved my first rhubarb seed, and the following spring our rhubarb seedling empire began.
Saving the seed from your current plants (or just buying a packet) is the first thing you need to do to grow rhubarb from seed. There are hundreds of seeds on a single rhubarb plant, and they cost about 10¢ each when bought by the packet. Still a good deal, but a much better deal if you can just save seed.
In early spring, rhubarb plants send up a flower stalk. Most gardeners cut it off so the plant can focus on making more stalks. Leave a few, on your best tasting rhubarb plants.
Give them a little more time, and that same flower stalk will swell with many pretty little white flowers.
It takes all summer, but by the fall, the rhubarb stalk will dry down. The dry, papery seed husks will start to catch the wind and blow away.
The seeds come off the stalk relatively easily, and there’s plenty of them. I got about a quart of seed from a single stalk.
The important thing here is to make sure you allow the seed to dry completely before storing it. The papery husks hold the morning dew, and they can easily mold if stored immediately.
Lay the rhubarb seed out on a tray and let it dry for a few days. Then, put it away until spring.
Rhubarb is a hardy perennial that is easy to grow and produces edible stalks perfect for pies, jams, and other treats While rhubarb is normally propagated by division of the roots, you can also grow new plants from seed But what do rhubarb seeds look like? Here’s a guide to identifying and harvesting rhubarb seeds from your own plants.
Rhubarb Produces Showy Flower Stalks
Unlike most vegetables, rhubarb plants will occasionally produce clusters of small white or greenish flowers on tall stalks. The flowers emerge from early to midsummer.
Allowing rhubarb to flower and go to seed does reduce the harvest of edible stalks But letting your plants bolt results in abundant seeds you can save
The flowers cluster together in dense, cone-shaped groups along upright stalks that can grow 4-6 feet tall. The bloom period lasts 2-3 weeks.
Flowers Give Way to Seed Pods
Once flowering finishes, the flowers give way to ribbed, triangular seed pods. These pods start off light green and ripen to brown as the seeds mature inside.
A single flower spike can produce dozens to hundreds of individual seed pods, each containing around 10-20 tiny rhubarb seeds.
It’s easy to identify the pods once you know what to look for. They cling tightly together in puckered, papery structures along the drying flower stalks.
Mature Seed Pods Crack Open When Dry
The seed pods shrivel and turn brittle once the seeds are fully developed, usually towards late summer or fall. As the pods completely dry out, their outer walls crack open.
Gently shaking the dry stalks or running your hand along them will cause the ripe seeds inside the shattered pods to come pouring out.
Some seeds may drop from pods before the stalks are fully dried. You may see seeds littering the ground under bolting plants.
Rhubarb Seeds Are Small and Dark Brown
Mature rhubarb seeds are very tiny, measuring 1-2 mm long. They are dark brown or black in color.
Their small size and oval, somewhat flattened shape makes them easy to confuse with debris or dirt at first glance.
When dry, rhubarb seeds have a smooth, glossy surface. They resemble tiny specks of black pepper.
Though minuscule, each seed contains an embryonic root, stem, and leaves that can generate a new rhubarb plant under proper conditions.
How to Harvest Rhubarb Seeds
Collecting seeds from your own rhubarb plants is simple:
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Allow 1-2 plants to bolt, flower, and develop seed pods.
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Monitor plants and wait for pods to ripen and turn brown.
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Cut flower stalks when the majority of pods appear shriveled and split.
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Lay stalks on a tarp or paper and rub pods between your hands over a collecting container.
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Pick out debris and store dry seeds in envelopes or jars. Label with plant name and year.
Storing Rhubarb Seeds for Planting
Fresh rhubarb seeds have a relatively short viability window of 1-2 years when stored properly. Here are some tips for storage:
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Make sure seeds are fully dry before storing to prevent mold growth.
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Place seeds in air-tight containers like glass jars or plastic tubs. Dark glass bottles work well.
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Store containers in a cool, dark place like a refrigerator or unheated basement area.
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Add a desiccant packet to the storage container to absorb moisture.
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Avoid freezing or exposing seeds to temperature extremes during storage.
With ideal storage conditions, rhubarb seeds remain viable for planting for at least one year after collection.
When to Plant Rhubarb Seeds Outdoors
Rhubarb can be planted from seeds or propagated from root divisions. Here is the optimal timing for planting seeds:
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Start seeds indoors in late winter 8-10 weeks before the last expected frost.
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Sow seeds 1⁄4 inch deep in seed starting mix. Keep the soil moist.
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Transplant seedlings into the garden after danger of frost has passed.
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Outdoor sowing can be done as soon as the ground can be worked in early spring.
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Choose a sunny spot with nutrient-rich, well-draining soil.
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Space plants 2-3 feet apart in rows 4 feet apart.
Rhubarb grown from seed takes 2-3 years to establish before you can begin harvesting stalks. But starting your own plants from seed you’ve collected is rewarding!
Tips for Growing Rhubarb from Seed
Rhubarb can be tricky to get going from seeds, but these tips will help:
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Start more seeds than you need since germination rates are low. Expect 30-40% to sprout.
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Keep soil moist but not soaked for good germination. Use bottom heat of 70-75°F for best results.
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Pinch off any flower stalks during the first 2 years so plants direct energy to roots and leaves.
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Mulch seedlings to maintain soil moisture and control weeds.
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Fertilize with compost or manure tea a few weeks after transplanting.
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Be patient! Even when sprouted, seedlings grow slowly at first.
Growing rhubarb from seed produces sturdy, robust plants. It may take patience and extra care initially, but the payoff of harvesting your own homegrown stalks is worth it!
Rhubarb seeds may be tiny, but they hold the potential for growing these versatile perennial vegetables. Allow your plants to flower and go to seed, then practice identifying and collecting the seeds so you can grow more of this garden staple.
Growing Rhubarb from Seed
When I first looked into how to grow rhubarb from seeds, I thought that the seeds would need a period of cold stratification before they could sprout. Nope.
For the crowns to recover from dormancy, it needs to be cold over the winter. But the seeds can stay at room temperature all winter before being planted.
Start rhubarb seeds indoors in pots or seedling trays about 8-10 weeks before the last frost. This is a few weeks before tomatoes, but a few weeks after asparagus grown from seed.
Keep the seedlings moist, but not saturated. Rhubarb can die or be stunted from root rot in overly wet potting mix.
When you move rhubarb plants, do it a little BEFORE the last spring frost. They can handle a little frost. Harden plants off by taking them outdoors during the day and on warmer nights.
Move the rhubarb seedlings to a permanent bed in the garden about two weeks before the last spring frost. It should have a lot of compost and organic matter added to it, and it should be mulched to keep weeds down and the soil cool.
If you live somewhere warmer, put the rhubarb plants somewhere they will be shaded during the day. Rhubarb plants grow best in cooler locations, and they’re generally considered hardy from zone 2 to 6.
Rhubarb Going To Seed Here is what to do – Straight to the Point
FAQ
Can you grow rhubarb from the seed stalk?
Can you still use rhubarb after it goes to seed?
What do rhubarb seeds look like?
Mature rhubarb seeds are encased in a dry paper-like shell in a three dimensional shape, rather than flattened. This shell has three fin-like structures evenly spaced on the outside of the seed, giving it an interesting appearance.
Is rhubarb good?
Rhubarb is a nutritious food that contains phytochemicals that play an important role in health, they help protect the body against metabolic disorders, have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action, and improve digestion and intestinal function.
What does rhubarb look like after flowering?
After a flowering period, rhubarb turns a stark brown color, and you’ll notice papery seeds rattling on the stalk. Not only does rhubarb continue to produce, it’s also incredibly easy to retrieve seeds from this plant. This is great news for those of you wanting to share the love of rhubarb with your neighbors, friends, or fellow gardeners.
What do rhubarb leaves taste like?
Some will have red stalks, and others will have green. The redder the stem, the sweeter the taste of the rhubarb. Use your home grown rhubarb for rhubarb crumble, rhubarb pie, or an easy rhubarb cake. You will even be able to use some of the rhubarb leaves as stencils to make concrete stepping stones with leaves.