Rhubarb - Red Champagne

Rhubarb – Red Champagne

Grow a classic heritage favorite with Red Champagne Rhubarb, a reliable and flavorful variety known for its long, slender stalks and beautiful pink to deep red coloring. This traditional rhubarb produces attractive stems with a delicate balance of tartness and mild sweetness, often described as having a subtle “wine-like” flavor that makes it especially desirable for baking and preserves.

Red Champagne is an early-producing variety that delivers harvestable stalks in spring and can continue producing through much of the growing season with proper care. The vigorous plants form large leafy clumps that return year after year, becoming more productive as they mature. Its vibrant color and smooth flavor make it ideal for pies, jams, sauces, and desserts.

Plant Details

Plant Type: Perennial Edible Root (Crown)
Stalk Color: Pink to deep red
Flavor: Mildly sweet with classic tart rhubarb flavor
Plant Height: 24–36 inches
Harvest Time: Spring to early summer
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Sun
Uses: Pies, jams, sauces, desserts, baking, and preserves

Growing Instructions for Zone 3b

Rhubarb thrives in colder climates and is extremely winter hardy, making it an excellent choice for Zone 3b gardens.

Planting Time
Plant rhubarb crowns in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked, or in early fall before the ground freezes.

Location
Choose a location with full sun to partial sun and rich, well-drained soil. Rhubarb grows best in soil rich in organic matter.

Planting Depth

• Dig a hole large enough to spread the roots comfortably.
• Place the crown so the buds sit about 1–2 inches below the soil surface.
• Cover with soil and water thoroughly.

Spacing
Space plants 36–48 inches apart to allow room for large mature clumps.

Watering
Keep soil evenly moist during the growing season, especially while plants are establishing.

Fertilizing
Apply compost or a balanced fertilizer each spring to encourage vigorous growth and strong stalk production.

Harvesting

• Do not harvest during the first year so plants can establish strong roots.
• Beginning in the second year, harvest by pulling and twisting stalks gently from the base.
• Avoid harvesting more than one-third of the plant at a time.

Important Note

• Only the stalks are edible.
• Rhubarb leaves contain oxalic acid and should never be eaten.

Winter Care in Zone 3b

• Rhubarb is extremely winter hardy and remains in the ground year-round.
• After frost kills the foliage, remove old leaves and apply mulch if desired.

With proper care, Red Champagne Rhubarb will provide many years of vibrant, flavorful harvests, making it a classic and dependable addition to the garden.