Where to Find Rhubarb Crowns for Sale Near Me

Rhubarb is a perennial vegetable that produces tasty tart stalks ideal for making pies, jams, chutneys and more. While rhubarb can be grown from seed, it takes several years before plants produce harvestable stalks. The fastest way to start growing rhubarb is by planting rhubarb crowns. But where can you find rhubarb crowns for sale if you want to grow this tasty perennial vegetable? Here’s what you need to know about purchasing rhubarb crowns locally or online.

What are Rhubarb Crowns?

Rhubarb crowns are sections of rhubarb root that can be planted to quickly establish a productive rhubarb plant Rhubarb crowns contain several buds that will sprout and grow into new rhubarb stalks and leaves. This gives them a major head start over growing rhubarb from tiny seeds

Rhubarb crowns are typically sold either as bare root crowns or potted crowns Bare root crowns are harvested while dormant and sold with the roots exposed Potted crowns have their roots enclosed in potting soil inside a container, Both provide an easy way to add rhubarb to your garden,

When is the Best Time to Plant Rhubarb Crowns?

Rhubarb crowns can be planted in early spring as soon as the ground can be worked or in fall after temperatures cool down. Spring planted crowns sometimes produce a small harvest by late summer or fall. Fall planted crowns typically don’t produce stalks until the following spring.

The key is to get them in the ground during a period of cooler temperatures. Rhubarb thrives in cool weather but hot summer temperatures can cause newly planted crowns to go dormant.

Where to Find Rhubarb Crowns for Sale Locally

One of the best places to find rhubarb crowns locally is at farmers markets in early spring or fall. Small scale produce farmers who sell at farmers markets are often a good source of perennial vegetable crowns like rhubarb, asparagus and horseradish. The crowns are usually freshly dug bare root crowns sourced from their own fields.

There are also garden centers and nurseries that sell rhubarb crowns in the spring and fall. During the main growing season, big box stores and nurseries that sell a lot of plants tend to focus more on rhubarb plants in pots. But bare root crowns are more likely to be sold at local nurseries in the spring and fall.

Hardware stores and home improvement stores like Home Depot and Lowes sometimes stock potted rhubarb crowns seasonally as well. This gives you the convenience of buying potted crowns that can be planted anytime.

And don’t forget to ask fellow gardening friends, neighbors and community gardeners if they have any extra rhubarb crowns they’d be willing to share. Dividing mature rhubarb plants is a great way to get free crowns.

Mail Order Rhubarb Crowns are Also an Option

Can’t find rhubarb crowns near you? You could order them by mail from nurseries and farms that are online. A lot of small-scale growers send rhubarb crowns to customers by mail, right from their fields.

Mail-order rhubarb crowns can also be bought at fair prices from big online stores like Gurney’s, Stark Bros., and Burpee. It is best for the crowns to arrive dormant in the spring or fall so they can grow well in your garden.

Mail order crowns ordered in fall may be drop shipped in early spring once they break dormancy. This avoids having to store dormant crowns over winter. Ordering by mail gives you access to a much wider selection of rhubarb varieties as well.

Choosing the Best Rhubarb Varieties

Popular rhubarb varieties like Canada Red, Victoria, Crimson Red, and Valentine offer excellent flavor, cold hardiness and productivity. Heirloom varieties boast old-fashioned rhubarb flavor. And newer hybrids like Chipman’s Canada Red give higher and more consistent yields.

For warmer climates, Hardy Tarty and Australian Crimson are heat tolerant varieties worth considering. And compact varieties like Compactum can thrive in containers.

You can get more rhubarb if you pick varieties that are in early, mid, and late season. Putting together red and green stalked varieties also adds color to pies and jams.

How Much do Rhubarb Crowns Cost?

Expect to pay $5-15 for a single rhubarb crown from most sources. Per crown prices are usually lowest when buying in bulk quantities.

For example, crowns may cost $12 individually but just $6 per crown when purchasing 25 or more. So go in with neighbors to get bulk crowns at the best prices if possible.

Organically certified rhubarb crowns tend to cost a little bit more. As does shipping if you mail order from an online nursery. But overall rhubarb crowns are very affordable plants.

Caring for Rhubarb Crowns After Planting

Rhubarb crowns prefer full sun and well-drained fertile soil amended with compost. Space crowns 2-3 feet apart. Water new plantings regularly if rainfall is lacking.

It’s important not to overharvest during the first 2 years. Don’t remove any stalks the first year. Only take a few stalks from each plant the second year. This allows the crowns to establish a robust root system before full harvests commence the 3rd year onward.

With proper care, a single rhubarb crown can produce tasty stalks for 10 years or longer! So purchasing crowns is an inexpensive way to enjoy this cold hardy perennial vegetable.

Where to Find Rhubarb Crowns Near Me

Here are some of the top places to find rhubarb crowns close to home:

• Local nurseries and garden centers – Check for bare root crowns in spring and fall. Potted crowns are often stocked during peak growing season as well.

• Hardware stores and home improvement centers – Sometimes have potted rhubarb crowns seasonally.

• Farmers markets – Ask vendors selling produce and plants if they have rhubarb crowns for sale.

• Neighbors and gardening friends – See if they can spare divisions from their own rhubarb patches.

• Online mail order nurseries – Order crowns from online retailers to access more varieties.

So don’t wait years to grow rhubarb from seeds. Plant quick establishing rhubarb crowns and enjoy harvesting your own tasty stalks next season! Just look for bare root or potted crowns at local sources or delivered right to your door. With rhubarb crowns it’s easy to add this perennial favorite to your garden.