Rhubarb, Horseradish & Elderberry Spacing Guide

Rhubarb, horseradish, and elderberries are tough, long-lived perennials that fit nicely alongside berries in small farms and home gardens. At fROOTz, we ship dormant planting stock that is built for our upper Midwest climate and held in 28° coolers until your ground is ready.

What You Receive from fROOTz

  • Rhubarb: Solid chunks of root material, not small crowns, selected for strong regrowth.
  • Horseradish: Small pieces of root about 3–4 inches long, shipped in bundles of 5.
  • Elderberries: Tray liners about 3 inches tall – woody stems with roots and a small amount of soil.

All of these are shipped dormant, ready to wake up quickly once planted into prepared soil.

Rhubarb Spacing & Planting

Rhubarb is a hardy, cool-season perennial grown for its flavorful stalks. It likes rich, well-drained soil and plenty of space.

  • Spacing between plants: 3–4 feet.
  • Row spacing: 3–4 feet between rows.
  • Depth: Plant each root chunk so the buds are 1–2 inches below the soil surface.

How to Plant Rhubarb Root Chunks

  1. Prepare the spot: Work in compost or well-rotted manure to create a deep, fertile, well-drained planting area.
  2. Dig the hole: Make a hole wide enough to spread the roots out comfortably, about 10–12 inches across and 8–10 inches deep.
  3. Set the root: Place the rhubarb chunk in the hole with any visible buds or “eyes” facing up.
  4. Backfill: Cover the root with soil so the buds end up about 1–2 inches below the surface, then firm the soil gently.
  5. Water in: Water thoroughly to settle soil around the root and eliminate air pockets, then mulch to help hold moisture and suppress weeds.

Examples

  • 4′ x 12′ bed: One row down the middle with plants 3–4 ft apart → 3–4 rhubarb roots per bed.
  • Along a fence (20–30 ft): Plants 3–4 ft apart → about 6–8 roots.

How Many Rhubarb Roots to Order?

  • Backyard use (family of 4): 3–4 roots.
  • Heavy pie and jam lovers / small farm stand: 6–10 roots.

Horseradish Spacing & Planting

Horseradish is grown for its pungent roots. It is vigorous and can spread, so give it a defined space where it can do its thing.

  • Spacing between roots in the row: 12–18 inches.
  • Row spacing: 2–3 feet between rows.
  • Depth: Plant each 3–4 inch root at a slight angle, about 2–3 inches deep, with the top end just below the soil surface.

Examples

  • Small patch (one 10–12 ft row): At 12–18 inch spacing, one fROOTz bundle of 5 roots will fill the row.
  • Bed edge or corner: A 4–6 ft strip with 3–4 roots gives all the horseradish most families need.

How Many Horseradish Roots to Order?

  • Most families: Just 1 bundle (5 roots) is plenty; it can supply roots for many years.
  • Small farm or market sales: 2–3 bundles to build a larger patch, spaced in 2–3 rows.

Because horseradish is so vigorous, plant it where spreading a bit will not be a problem or use barriers to keep roots contained.

Elderberry Spacing, Pollination & Planting

Elderberries are hardy shrubs that produce clusters of white flowers and dark berries used for juice, syrup, and wine. They are well suited to the upper Midwest when planted in moist, well-drained soil.

  • Spacing between plants in the row: 4–6 feet, depending on how tight you want the hedge.
  • Row spacing (field): 10–12 feet between rows for equipment access.
  • Depth: Plant tray liners so the root ball is just below the soil surface and firm the soil around the stem.

Pollination & Variety Mix

  • Elderberries need more than one variety for good pollination and fruit set.
  • For Samdal and Samyl, a good rule is about 5 Samdal to 1 Samyl in the planting.
  • Mix varieties within the same row or in adjacent rows so flowering bushes are close together.

Examples

  • Hedge row (30–40 ft): Plants 5 ft apart → 6–8 elderberry liners total. Use roughly 5 Samdal and 1–2 Samyl mixed through the row.
  • Small block (two 30 ft rows): 2 rows 10–12 ft apart, plants 5 ft apart in each row → about 12 liners total (10 Samdal, 2 Samyl).

How Many Elderberry Plants to Order?

  • Backyard hedge and a few gallons of berries: 6–10 liners total, keeping the 5:1 Samdal:Samyl ratio.
  • Small farm trial block (about 1/8 acre): 40–60 liners, again using mostly Samdal with Samyl as the pollinizer.

Putting It All Together

These three crops are low-maintenance once established and can quietly produce in the background of your berry operation or backyard. If you are unsure how many rhubarb roots, horseradish bundles, or elderberry liners to order for your space, fROOTz is happy to help you design a planting that fits your goals.