Rhubarb - best growing conditions ?

Hi all

As a great lover of rhubard crumble, I was toying with the idea of maybe getting some to grow in the garden as it always seems so expensive in the supermarket for a couple of bits (seem some last week for £2.99 for 3 stalks ??!!??) I dont grow anything thats edible and its not something I plan too really, as havent got the space or time.

Anyway .... my garden is all planted up for flowers and there are not many gaps left now so was wondering how well Rhubarb actually does in pots, or whether I would be completely wasting my time and best to stick it straight in the ground ?

The only problem with that is, the only few spaces I have left now would be in corners (complete shade) .... and I am not sure I like the idea of taking up any shrubs or perennials to make space for it in the sun, as it would then be on full view in between all the flowers which I think might look a bit odd.

Any suggestions on where the best place to put it would be so its not on full view (ie pride of place) but that still grows and produces enough to eat ?

Also, where is the best place to buy a crown of Rhubarb from and when ?

 

I've never grown it, but my dad used to grow it a lot, until he decided it was too invasive (which seems contrary to everything I've read on t'internet about it).

My dad used to always include lots of old bricks and lumps of rock into a rhubarb bed, his logic being that it forced the roots to spread (don't know if there is any science to back this up), and lots of manure for compost. He always got an excellent crop.

As for growing it in shade, I read contradictory articles yesterday about this. Many articles said full sun, but some said partial to full shade (as long as it is warm) to make it grow faster and sweeter.

 

Thanks Clueless - I am getting the same sort of condradictory advise from different things I have read also. It would make it so much easier if information was correct on the internet lol

 

http://www.thompson-morgan.com/fruit1/product/aww3970/1.html

http://www.thompson-morgan.com/fruit1/product/aww3971/1.html

Any advice on these ? They appear as autumn planting ones as they list the same one for spring planting also with a spring dispatch date.

 

That second one is cheaper here:
http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_veg...m/rhubarb-timperley-early/classid.2000007614/

 

Rhubarb has huge leaves, so can look architectural in a flower border. You'll need to leave 4 - 6 leaves when you harvest it, so there will always be something there. I have some natives of the Rhubarb family around my pond for their showy big leaves.

Most people remove any flowering spikes, but I've read that leaving them makes no difference.

Bung some globe artichokes in whilst you are at it? :D

 

P.S. I would recommend buying in a garden centre where you can see the size of the crowns. I can just imagine getting diddly plants if buying mail order :(

 

Thanks both

So shade is ok ?

It would be better to plant in a shaded corner in the ground rather than in sun in a pot ?

Will remember to buy from garden centre instead of mail order - thanks Kristen.

Unfortunately not one of us like artichokes though :( There is even one or two of the people in this house that dont eat ANY veg or fruit whatsoever ...... GRRRRR

 

What do they live on? Do they eat chips? If so here's a cunning trick that I've used in the past for fussy people. Simply make chips out of different veg. They will just think they are slightly 'different' flavoured. I've made chips out of turnips, butternut squash, carrots, parsnips and sweet potatoes before. Obviously not the healthiest way to prepare such veg, but at least it adds a slightly more varied range of nutrients to the diet of the fussy.

EDIT: I forgot to mention my other trick. I've put various types of fruit in curries too. Strangely enough, I find that even fussy people tend not to question what is in a curry.

 

Well one of them wont eat chips at all .... but then he is prob the healthiest one of us all!!

The two fussy eaters eat chips but would know if they weren't proper chips (17 & 14) so hard to trick lol

And only one person in the whole house eats curry ..... the healthy kid lol ... hmmmm i wonder how healthy a curry actually is for a fitness freak ??


You can tell meal times are fun in our house :dh:

Only 3 out of the 6 of us would be eating the Rhubarb - me, OH and healthy kid lol