Rhubarb is a popular perennial vegetable that grows tasty stalks that are used in desserts, jams, and other foods. Rhubarb does well with some plants, but others can slow its growth or compete with it for nutrients. Knowing which plants don’t do well with rhubarb will help you plan your garden so that the healthiest, most productive plants grow there.
Why Companion Planting Matters
Companion planting is based on the idea that certain plants can benefit or inhibit others when grown in close proximity. It is an integral part of organic gardening and promotes plant health without pesticides.
By avoiding bad companion plants, your rhubarb will thrive better. It will have the space, nutrients, and light needed for optimal growth. In addition, good companion plants can help deter pests or enrich the soil.
Worst Companion Plants for Rhubarb
Here are some of the worst companion plants for rhubarb that are best avoided
Potatoes
When grown together, potatoes and rhubarb often fight over nutrients, especially nitrogen. Both need healthy, fertile soil. Putting them together can make the soil too heavy, which stops them from growing.
Tomatoes
While tomatoes thrive in many gardens, they are not a suitable match for rhubarb. Tomatoes can attract pests that may then spread to the rhubarb. Overshadowing from tomato plants can also inhibit rhubarb growth.
Broccoli, Cabbage and Other Brassicas
Brassicas, like potatoes, eat a lot of food, which can leave rhubarb without the nutrients it needs. Because they need the same nutrients and grow at the same rate, crops will be stunted.
Beans
Beans fix nitrogen in the soil. While nitrogen is beneficial for some plants, rhubarb thrives better in soil with lower nitrogen levels. Too much can make the rhubarb foliage abundant but the stalks small and underdeveloped.
Peppers
Peppers and rhubarb are rarely compatible. They compete for nutrients, often resulting in decreased yields for both crops. Peppers also dislike the moist soil preferred by rhubarb.
Cucumbers
The vigorous growth of cucumber vines can overwhelm rhubarb’s needs for space, air circulation and direct sunlight. Nutrient and moisture competition is also likely.
Corn
Tall corn plants, especially when densely planted, can block sunlight from reaching shorter rhubarb. Lack of light will inhibit rhubarb growth and reduce yields.
Melons
Like cucumbers and corn, melon vines spread extensively and monopolize space, light, nutrients and moisture. Keep rhubarb away from melon plantings.
Strawberries
Surprisingly, strawberries are not an ideal match for rhubarb, despite their pairing in desserts. In the garden, they compete for nutrients and moisture. Proximity can reduce yields of both.
How to Plant Rhubarb
If you want to grow rhubarb in your garden, keep it away from plants that don’t do well with it. Target a sunny, open spot with organically rich soil.
Divide rhubarb roots in early spring and plant the crowns 2-3 inches deep, spaced 3 feet apart. Water deeply and mulch well. Harvest stalks the following year. Remove flower stalks to encourage leaf and stem growth.
Every 4-5 years, lift plants, divide roots and replant the healthiest pieces. Rejuvenate planting beds with compost or manure before replanting.
Suitable Rhubarb Companions
While some plants spell trouble for rhubarb, others make excellent neighbors. Consider pairing your rhubarb with:
- Chives
- Garlic
- Daffodils
- Carrots
- Lettuce
- Onions
- Spinach
These compatible plants enrich soil, provide shade or pest protection, and occupy different garden spaces or niches than rhubarb.
With knowledge of crop compatibilities, you can design a thriving garden ecosystem. Ensure your rhubarb has room to flourish among friendly plant companions for maximal yield.
Benefits of Rhubarb in the Garden
Rhubarb, while commonly recognized for its bright pink stalks and role in delicious desserts, also stands tall as a formidable ally in the garden ecosystem.
This perennial favorite offers several advantages, making it an essential player in holistic and sustainable gardening.
While rhubarb may be enticing to us humans, especially in a pie, certain pests find it repelling.
Many gardeners have fewer issues with pests like leaf beetles when rhubarb is nearby.
This means that the surrounding plants benefit from this natural shield, reducing the damage and ensuring healthier growth.
Beyond its pest-repelling properties, rhubarb has another ace up its sleeve.
Its large, expansive leaves sprawl across the garden floor, acting as a natural ground cover.
This “living mulch” maintains soil moisture, prevents excessive evaporation on hot days, and curbs the growth of unwanted weeds.
With its shade, rhubarb also aids in preserving the soils organic matter, leading to richer, more fertile ground over time.
The deep-rooted nature of rhubarb means it can draw nutrients from deeper soil layers, which are often untapped by other plants.
As the rhubarb plant sheds its leaves and they decompose, these nutrients are returned to the topsoil, benefiting the plants around it.
To learn more about companion planting, check out my guides:
Can you plant zucchini next to rhubarb?
Yes, zucchini and rhubarb generally coexist peacefully in the garden.
Zucchini plants appreciate the partial shade provided by rhubarbs broad leaves during scorching summer days, which can prevent zucchini blossoms from scorching.
To learn more about growing zucchini, check out my guide Maximize Your Zucchini Harvest: Companion Planting Guide.
Everything About Companion Planting Is a LIE
FAQ
What does rhubarb like to be planted in?
Rhubarb will grow and produce in most soils, but grows best in fertile, loamy, well-drained soil that has good organic matter content.
Why do you put a bucket over rhubarb?
Putting a bucket or other container over rhubarb is a technique called “forcing,” which encourages the plant to produce earlier, sweeter, and more tender stems. Forcing rhubarb makes it grow quickly toward the light source by blocking light and keeping heat in. This makes the stalks pale and long.
What does rhubarb repel?
Oxalic acid in the leaf blades (not petioles) of rhubarb can help repel flea beetles. Row cover, although a synthetic material, can last several years with care. An infusion of tansy, growing here with goldenrod, may repel Colorado potato beetles.
What is the secret to growing rhubarb?
The key to successful rhubarb cultivation lies in proper planting, soil preparation, and consistent care. Rhubarb thrives in cool climates with well-drained soil and plenty of sunlight. Planting in early spring or fall, ensuring good drainage, and enriching the soil with organic matter are crucial steps.