Rhubarb

[cilla]

My husband has asked me to grow rhubarb. Any advice which variety and when do I plant? Can I plant out now as I know they take a couple of years to use. I will be putting it in a container. How big does the container need to be? Bear in mind I only need a small amount as I do not like rhubarb myself.
Thanks.

[Lumpy]

Hello Cilla, sorry I know nothing about the different varieties my 2 plants were bought because they were seriously reduced to 99p each.
I did plant one (a poor pathetic looking plant if ever there was one) into a tyre in the back garden last week but the normal time for rhubarb is very late autumn or very early spring.
If you are going to grow in a container I would suggest a large one as once the plant gets going it will bulk up its roots no end - I personally prefer an unused, semi shade corner of the garden.
When you get one remember to plant your rhubarb crown only as deep as it was in its pot - don't fully cover it with soil as the crown will rot.
Traditionally rhubarb is only harvested up until the end of July.

Other than this limited info - you go for it girl, find one and shove it in somewhere. They are tough plants and can cope with quite a lot of ill treatment - well mine have anyway.

[Thelma Sanders]

Every time I've tried to grow it in a tub - it died

It's easy in the ground though I grow Timperley Early

[WendyC]

I would have thought you would need at least a half barrel. It will take some watering though.

[muddled]

another vote for timperly early here although, if you don't want much, you could try a fancy champagne type....I believe they are less prolific and more tasty.

I'm not sure that rhubarb will enjoy living in a tub but my mum has planted one in a big pot today. I gave her half a sack of well rotted manure to compensate. Rhubarb is a very hungry plant.....in a confined space you will need to feed it well.

[sparrow100]

Personally I really wouldn't grow it in a tub. I had mine in a 45L tub for 3 years, fed it well and it slowly got unhappier and unhappier. I put it in the ground this Spring and I've got more stalks this year than I have had in 3 years combined.

It's a Hawkes Champagne, which has lovely red stalks, thinner stalks than others and beautiful roasted with sugar. I also have timperley early, but they are first year crowns so no clue yet how vigorous they will be on my heavy clay.

[cilla]

Thanks everyone. I will look for one to plant in autumn because I need to find somewhere in the garden to plant them as the consensus is not to plant in a container.