Rhubarb advice please!

[Nicos]

I have a couple of rhubarb plants which haven't been very successful and I want to move them.
Thing is that everywhere in my S/SW facing garden gets bone dry in the summer and I really don't want to be watering any more than necessary.

So, basically I'm asking advice about trying to grow rhubarb as best as I can in a hostile environment!

Also- any position which is shaded from the sun in my garden is also under a tree so very little rain gets underneath.

What I'm thinking is , maybe if I pamper the soil I may have more success???...how best to prepare the soil to be as moisture retaining as possible.
The soil is slightly acidic and sandy and although it gets waterlogged in winter dries out completely in the summer down to a depth of 8-10" if I don't water it.

Any advice would be fantastic please. I am aware they are thirsty plants....am I crazy at attempting to do this????
( I do get poor crops off both plants, probably enough for 4 family crumbles, but they are both 8 years old and I should be getting waaay more off each one!)

( I also have a couple of younger plants as yet too small to yield- as a back up!)

thank you!

[fishpond]

As much manure/compost you can lay your hands on.
2 benefits:-
Rhubarb will love you to bits.
It should improve the soil no end, also vastly improve nutrient & water retention (soil).
Are you under any restrictions in France with regards to watering?

[Bill Door]

Nicos I am with fishpond as far as the manure compost is concerned. I would also add a fair bit of blood fish and bone to the compost.

I would also suggest that you dig the hole, you will put the rhubarb in, as deep as you possibly can. At least try to get down to clay (if there is any). Before you plant the rhubarb soak the hole as much as possible.

Also a nice cover of mulch around the crown (but not on it) before it gets dry in the summer.

Bill

[starloc]

My oldest ones have been planted 3 years and seem fine in the centre of the garden in Bulgaria its baked solid rock most of the year with the sun and no shade, every day if the soil isnt wet each one gets 10l bottle of water in the morning and 10l tipped on about 6pm , they wilt in between watering flat to the floor a lot of days, still grows fine,

Soil is great for mud bricks here orange sandy clay, i didnt add anything but do tip fertiliser on them

[skeggijon]

Lots of Hoss muck around them should help.

[jackarmy]

Does rhubarb do well in a big pot ?
sorry for slightly ot Nicos.

[bearded bloke]

Dig a Deeeeeeeeeeeeep hole, 3/4 fill with FYM/oss muck, plant rhubarb on top & then surround/cover with compost & a thick much on top of that.

[skeggijon]

Rhubarb isn't very happy in a pot although I know some peoples manage it, but it does need a lot of care.

[Nicos]

Brill advice...it's very encouraging! Thanks

yep- we do get watering restrictions and I really don't want to end up doing much watering carting several cans of water across the field on more than a once a week basis tbh...(we are rushed off our feet during the summer months)

I had thought about the trench compost method but was concerned that would reduce down to next to nothing and cause the plant to 'subside' ??

[skeggijon]

You could dig a trench around the Rhubarb and fill with manure rather than compost. Then keep topping up round it with manure each year.

[ancee]

That's a good idea ^^. Might try that myself

[Nicos]

Very much like that idea!

[datz]

Ours survived the great canicule of last year, just had to water them as much as possible, until the restrictions kicked in. They are just peaking through at the moment.

[Invicta]

Gardening on clay in North west England I have to mound plant my rhubarb or they die of crown rot due to too much water even though they are at the top of a slope. Give your rhubarb plenty of moisture retaining humus and plenty of general fertilizer in spring and I am sure you will be OK.

[BUFFS]

Nicos I am with fishpond as far as the manure compost is concerned. I would also add a fair bit of blood fish and bone to the compost.

I would also suggest that you dig the hole, you will put the rhubarb in, as deep as you possibly can. At least try to get down to clay (if there is any). Before you plant the rhubarb soak the hole as much as possible.

Also a nice cover of mulch around the crown (but not on it) before it gets dry in the summer.

Bill

having dug the hole at least 12ins deep, I would put at least 3-4ins of folded up newspapers in the bottom, plant the rhubarb and give it a couple of gallons of water. I was taught this years ago when I was just starting to garden seriously, and it works a treat, by the time the paper has rotted the roots will be deep down and fending for themselves......