Rhubarb

[shambayango]

When is the best time to plant a new rhubarb plant and which one is best for flavour and longevity?

Shamba

[nickdub]

they live virtually forever - Autumn/Winter is the easiest time to transplant a root. Best sort is whatever you can scrounge from some-one who has some. Animal manure is the best feed, and plant it somewhere where it will get sun, but won't be in the way in few years time.

[shambayango]

Thanks nick dub - it all depends on whether our tiny beds would be able to support a rhubarb plant. I posted another link last week saying that we were going to try growing vegetables in our back garden as we got fed up with the constant battle with the Council over the tidyness and/or sufficient produce on our 5 pole plot. Now we will have two beds of about 180 X 170 cm and two more of about 120 X 180 cm but probably a bit smaller after we've put boards around. It is not quite finished yet but we are getting there.

[veggiechicken]

Can you plant it as an ornamental in your flower beds?

[nickdub]

I think you'd be able to grow rhubarb there no problem - the only tricky part would be whether you'd want the large leaves splaying around all over your paths. The up side of rhubarb is that it will get by on neglect, the main downside is that not everyone likes it.

Why not grow a few upright fruit types against your fences ? - loganberry and/or gooseberry for example - when you don't have much horizontal space, it makes sense to make use of the vertical too.

[Jungle Jane]

Ive planted my rhubarb next to my grape all right next to the shed,it's looking lush out there today with all the growth,the other photos from May 24th this same year. If I was putting rhubarb in one of the beds,I'd plant it at the edge so the greenery can flow onto the path to leave space in the beds for more veg. If it takes over the path you can make a shield?

[nickdub]

Looks excellent - do you reckon you'll be able to get the grapes to ripen ?

[Jungle Jane]

Thanks Yes Ive thinned them so there's less on each bunch.