rhubarb crowns - spacing

[janzbro]

Hi, I have just got 3 victoria crowns, am I correct in thinking I need 1 m2 per crown?

[Bigmallly]

I would plant around 2-3ft apart so sounds about right.

[Alison]

I would plant around 2-3ft apart so sounds about right.

3' is the minimum I'd go, the plants get huge!

[Bigmallly]

3' is the minimum I'd go, the plants get huge!

Depends where the info comes from Alison & if you want to pick them young.

"Instructions for How to Plant Rhubarb

In your prepared garden, dig a small hole where you plan to plant the rhubarb.

Add water to the hole.

Carefully remove the plant from the pot in which you have purchased it, and set it inside the hole. Be sure the soil of the potted plant is moist enough so that when you gently pull at the plant, the soil remains around the crown/roots like a "ball")

Plant with the top bud about 5 cm (2") below soil level.

Fill in the area around the plant base with soil, while ensuring the plant is firmly set.

If you are planting more than one plant, space the plants about 75 cm. (30") each way".

[Bill Door]

I would plant them about two to three feet apart. I like to force my crowns so I will dig a crown out when the forcing is finished and re-plant in another part of the allotment. So the crowns are not close together very long. Too be honest I don't think that rhubarb minds being close together. When I took over the allotment there were about 8 crowns in an area just over a square metre and they all flourished.

I was also told to plant the crown with the buds about two inches above ground as the tops do not like being covered by soil/compost or water.

Bill

[Snadger]

I grow all my and rhubarb, redcurrants,blackcurrants gooseberries etc at four foot centres.

Don't know whether this is the official line, but it works for me!

[Ryleh]

3 foot/1 metre apart I go with. Some varieties I might reduce the distance down to about 80cm apart but wouldnt go much closer than that other than if planting for forcing.

[Alison]

Depends where the info comes from Alison & if you want to pick them young.

Was basing it on how big they get at my plot after a few years although I do give them plenty of muck which they love. Also I like to be able to get between them for harvesting. I plant fruit bushes about 5 or 6' apart so I can get round the mature plants too, hate having to fight the neighbouring plant when harvesting.

[janzbro]

so in an 8x4 feet bed, if I plant it in the middle of the 4 feet width with equal spacing along 8 feet length that should be ok for all 3, ?

seems a very large space for 3 plants - hope they manage to fill it, well the wife does, as she love rhubarb crumble

[veggiechicken]

You can fill in the space in between the crowns with annual veg, until the rhubarb takes over.

[janzbro]

I was going to ask if I could do this the first couple of years, anything you recommend?

[veggiechicken]

I fill in between the rhubarb with................anything I have spare.

[Snadger]

I fill in between the rhubarb with................anything I have spare.

Custard?

[skeggijon]

When I split my Rhubarb crowns I always plant them with the buds poking just above ground level.