Rhubarb Crowns

Rhubarb Crowns FAQs

Packed with vitamins and minerals, rhubarb is a traditional favourite which demands little of growers other than plenty of space to spread out, an annual mulch with well-rotted manure or compost, and water during dry spells. Here are answers to some of your rhubarb FAQs.

When should rhubarb crowns be planted?

Get your rhubarb crowns into the ground during their dormant phase – that’s before spring has sprung. In practice, this means either doing it in the autumn, giving your plants the whole winter to get established, or during the early spring before the leaves burst into life. Alternatively, buy a potted rhubarb plant and either grow it in a large container or plant it into the ground on a mild day when the soil isn’t too cold and wet or particularly hot and dry.

Should you soak rhubarb crowns before planting?

Don’t soak rhubarb crowns before planting. While this is standard practice for many bare-root plants, rhubarb is prone to rotting if it becomes waterlogged. It’s best, therefore, to plant your rhubarb into its final position in fertile, well-drained soil before watering in and letting the plants absorb the moisture they need naturally.

Can you grow rhubarb in raised beds?

You can certainly grow rhubarb in raised beds and, in fact, if your ground tends towards waterlogging, this is a better option. But, with a spread of up to around 5ft, your bed will need to be big enough and deep enough to accommodate such a large plant. Large containers are also suitable for growing rhubarb, but again, they need to be big, with a depth of at least 50cm (around 20”) or more. If you’re planting more than one crown, space them at least 3’ apart.

Why is my rhubarb flowering

Your rhubarb is flowering because it wants to set seed, but you shouldn’t let it do so as this may weaken the plant. Usually, your plants will send up at least one large flowerhead. Cut it off before it goes anywhere. If your plants keep producing flowers, it may be the variety – some tend to produce more flowers than others, or plants may produce more flowers when overfed with nitrogen fertilisers.