Best site for rhubarb

[Mcbee]

I'm probably going to plant out my rhubarb this week end (as long as its not as cold as predicted!) so have been trawling through the various web sites for advice. Most seem to say full sun is the best aspect - but heres a question for you who are more knowledable -

If growing in the sun is best, why do people force rhubarb by covering it up? Surely, if you grow it in the shade the same principle as covering it up applies, (ie excluding strong light) albeit on a much smaller scale? Isn't soil choice more important that aspect, or am i way of track?

Any thoughts?

[rustylady]

Rhubarb is pretty easy going. Full sun or part shade will suit it OK. What it does need is good rich soil. If yours is on the sandy side add as much organic matter as you can.

Forcing rhubarb is a whole different thing. Have you noticed how seedlings grow very tall and spindly when they're on a windowsill and not getting enough light? All plants are desperate to get as much light as they can, so if light is excluded they grow tall and fast. Hence covering rhubarb gets it to throw up long tender stems - good for eating, but not generally very good for the plant, so you never force the same plant two years running.

[Demeter]

Most things prefer full sun over part shade, however there are some crops (like rhubarb!) which will tolerate part shade better than others (like, say, cucumbers). Therefore, if you have a shady area and you are looking for plants that will do well in it, rhubarb is worth trying, leaving space in your sunnier areas for crops that really do need full sun.

[Mcbee]

Thanks for info guys. I think i have just the spot.

My soil is clay - sodden in the winter, concrete in the summer(?). I presume well rotted compost is required rather tnan manure?

[Demeter]

Thanks for info guys. I think i have just the spot.

My soil is clay - sodden in the winter, concrete in the summer(?). I presume well rotted compost is required rather tnan manure?

Compsot or manure - whatever is wrong with your soil, organic matter will fix it! They will both do a good job...

[terrier]

I have an area under mature Horse Chestnut trees that gets hardly any sun at all and I was wondering if I could use it for something, so I planted rhubarb crowns last year and some spare Goosberry plants. I'll just have to see what happens this Summer. The ground is humus rich and right next to the midden (horse muck). I'm hoping the rhubarb feels at home there.

[Snadger]

Rhubarb is a very obliging crop and will grow in areas where most other fruit and veg won't.
So if you are only growing enough rhubarb for the family a shady spot where nothing else will grow should suffice.
If you want to have very early rhubarb you can lift a bit of the root now with soil on and put it under the greenhouse staging or somewhere indoors but shaded. Keep it moist, and give it a bit of heat and it will repay you with tasty rhubarb when it's expensive in the shops! Once you've cropped it, chuck the root away as it will be knackered!

[Two_Sheds]

I have an area under mature Horse Chestnut trees

It's likely to be dry then ... you'll have to water and mulch your rhubarb well.

[womble]

I planted a rhubarb under a small plum tree once, not right under, but under the edges, the rhubarb hated it and after a couple of years I moved it.
You can do it, but I wouldn't bet on it being successful.

[Nicos]

I have rhubarb in full sun( south-west) and under a Fir tree.
The blackberries seem fine there- but not the rhubarb- I think they've never been fed and mulched.
Last chance next year!
I have divided some rhubarb from my lottie, but I'll not be planting it were the other lot is. ( I think they need more shade from the sun and less shade from the rain to be honest)

Back on the lottie- it seems to grow anywhere on the other plots...too well perhaps!

[Johnny Appleseed]

Thanks for info guys. I think i have just the spot.

My soil is clay - sodden in the winter, concrete in the summer(?). I presume well rotted compost is required rather tnan manure?

You will need something to break the clay up and improve the drainage. We have a horrible sticky London clay subsoil and it took me a couple of seasons to improve it enough for the rhubarb to survive. Plenty of organic material and good drainage. I lost my first lot of rhubard due to waterlogging. Had a good crop this year though - 2 years later. Rhubarb and ginger crumble very popular in the Appleseed household