When should i plant my rhubarb?

[Veggielot]

I got a rhubarb currently in a pot, when should I plant it. I want to plant it asap but do I need to worry about frost?

[out in the cold]

I always though Rhubarb was frost hardy. My dad, neighbours, grandad, uncles etc used to just leave it in the ground over winter (as far as I remember)

According to the bbc, a hard frost will help it along BBC - Gardening - Gardening Guides - Techniques - Growing rhubarb

[WendyC]

Where has the pot been? If the plant has been inside the rhubarb will have grown bigger and softer than if it had been growing outside in the wind and cold. Rhubarb is tough but not if it is not used to roughing it outside, it would need hardening off. If it's been outside all along then unless the ground is frozen it will thank you for the room to spread its roots.

[Veggielot]

Where has the pot been?

Either in my mini greenhouse (unheated) or garage (also unheated) over night, depending on space. I have been putting it outside during the day

[rustylady]

How big is it? Picture would be good.

[bearded bloke]

Plant it in the garden,leave it exposed to harden during the day & put an upturned trug/bucket over it at night for a couple of weeks.

[Veggielot]

How big is it? Picture would be good.

It came in a 3" pot, repotted it into a 6" pot. Not much to see at the moment only has a couple of small leaves.

[WendyC]

Is it going in the garden or a more exposed allotment? I would have thought after a week of days and a few nights outside you'd be ok to plant in a garden. For an allotment you'd want to hardened it off for longer.

[Veggielot]

Its going into my allotment, i have a bed ready but it is more exposed than my garden. Looks like I need to wait a bit longer.

[rustylady]

I would still put it outside during the day, it doesn't need mollycoddling. When you plant it on the allotment you could protect it with a cloche for a while.

[salome2001]

I have feral rhubarb on my plot, planted God knows how many years ago and completely neglected. It's doing fine.

Upturned old wheelie bins make really good rhubard forcers, BTW