How to Grow Rhubarb

Posted by Amber Williams on 5th Apr 2022

How to Grow Rhubarb


Ah, Rhubarb. With a long history in British gardens and our dishes, it’s easy to see why they’re a popular choice to plant among gardeners! Plus, they’re quite easy to grow, making them a perfect practice plant for beginners.

Although planting rhubarb might seem complicated on the surface, once you finally get to the root of the process, everything will (hopefully!) click into place. Let’s learn how to grow rhubarb.

The basics

The most confusing part about rhubarb is actually the most convenient. Rhubarb plants can be grown in either late winter or mid-spring. When to grow them entirely depends on your preference! Although technically a vegetable, rhubarb roots have a tantalising tangy taste that goes well with many dishes.

We sell rhubarb crowns, which are an easier way to grow these tasty plants! However, you can also grow them from seeds, meaning you would need to germinate them yourself.

When to plant


Rhubarb, as we mentioned, can be grown from crowns or seeds. Crowns are cuttings from a parent plant that have at least one dormant seedling attached, proving to succeed more often than seeds. Seeds can be harder to grow, as you’re starting the whole plant from scratch, although they’re not at all impossible. As you can imagine, planting times between crowns and seeds are quite different as they appear at different times of the year.

Crowns: The best time to plant rhubarb crowns is in late autumn (October-November).
Seeds: Seeds can be sown outside in Spring (April-May).

Where to Plant

Rhubarb plants are quite hardy, thriving in partial sun. We suggest planting them in well-manured beds in the garden with plenty of space between each plant.

You can also grow rhubarb in large, deep containers – preferably in sizes that allow the plant plenty of space to grow.


How to Plant

To plant crowns, position them in a sunny or partially shaded area. Ensure the soil is well-drained, rich, moist, and is prepared with plenty of manure and compost. Plant each crown 90cm apart for best results.

To grow rhubarb from seeds, the process takes slightly longer than that of a crown. Seeds should be sown in early spring in small trays. Thin seedlings 15cm apart, allowing the strongest plants to thrive. Pop them in the ground once they have grown and pick them when their stalks are ready. Speaking of which...

Harvesting

Rhubarb is ready to harvest when their stems are green and red. To make sure that you get the most from your rhubarb plants for years to come, avoid picking any roots for the first year, and taking only a couple in the second year. Established plants aged three years or older can be harvested from spring.

To pull rhubarb, simply grab hold of the root and twist the stems until they remove themselves from the base of the plant. No need for any secateurs!

Forcing

If you’re feeling the need for some fresh rhubarb crumble in the winter before rhubarb typically grows, then we’ve got good news! You can trick your rhubarb plants into thinking that it’s warm enough to grow months in advance by forcing them.

Forced rhubarb is sweeter than main crop, and it’s not hard to get these juicy veggies going! To force rhubarb, cover the crown of the plant with pots to cut off sun exposure and keep the crowns warm. When the stems reach the top of the pot, it's time to harvest.

Overwintering

Rhubarb plants need cold bouts before re-growing in the spring. As they’re hardy plants, they can survive the winter with just a layer of mulch to keep them safe from severe frosts. Let the foliage from your rhubarb die back naturally in autumn and then cut them back in early winter, exposing the stumps to the cold.


Want to start your own rhubarb patch? Shop our selection of rhubarb plants, each supplied as easy to grow crowns.