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Gardening

Rhubarb!

(9 Posts)
Grammaretto Sun 10-May-20 11:49:41

I have never heard of growing rhubarb from seed. You usually get a crown from a neighbour . I had to split mine last year as it doesn't like to be cramped. It goes too quickly to flower. It likes to be kept watered but it is remarkably unfussy and just gets on with it at the bottom of the garden. Don't pick all the stems. Make sure you leave a few for the following year..

Nellie098 Sun 10-May-20 11:30:09

We have rhubarb in our front garden and no it doesn't look funny but it is planted against a wall. The front garden has most sun in the morning and then shadier in the afternoon. I don't ever water it. Don't be as lazy as me and wait until the leaves are enormous and then cut it. It is so hardy and gives me loads to freeze each year as well as to cook with. My DH also grows it at his allotment so I have to give loads away and it is always appreciated.

grandMattie Sun 10-May-20 10:01:54

Don't worry where you put it. Rhubarb looks lovely and lush when in leaf.
I was encouraged to grow anything anywhere after seeing the glorious parterres in the Tuilerie gardens full of ... beet chard and runner beans! I once bought some seeds in Paris and mentioned to the vendor that the beans were delicious. He laughed merrily, and I could see his mind going "ces anglais!"

BlueBelle Sun 10-May-20 09:58:42

I ve run out of room and have potatoes amongst the flowers in my front garden who cares they re all plants

growstuff Sun 10-May-20 09:54:57

Unless you're patient, I'd buy a one year old crown. As Redhead wrote, you should wait a year before picking, to allow the plant to build up.

I have one plant in my very small garden, which gets sun for about half the day. It produces enough for me to pick a few stems maybe twice a week, which I stew and have with yoghurt for breakfast. It freezes well, if you do happen to have a glut.

The biggest problem in a front garden is the big empty space when it's dormant. I guess you could underplant it with small spring flowering bulbs.

Redhead56 Sun 10-May-20 09:46:22

I stayed in a cottage in Wales there was rhubarb in the front garden in among the shrubs. I was delighted throughout the holiday making crumbles with it. I have never grown it from seed but from crowns of Timperely early. Mine in my raised vegetable beds it does take up a lot of room but I love rhubarb. I know you are not to pick first year and the leaves are poisonous. I pick until early summer then trim it down. Any advice on gardening is good from Allotment Garden website based in Wales. I recommend D G. Hessayon the vegetable garden book.

tanith Sun 10-May-20 09:35:31

I grow rhubarb in a cramped spot by my shed it’s in the sun from early morn till lunch time and it’s not spectacularly successful but supplies me with enough for myself. I’ve also thought of planting some in my front garden I don’t think it matters to be honest what people think if it works.

Esspee Sun 10-May-20 09:25:41

Why not google “growing rhubarb” to get expert advice or go onto the gardener’s world website and do a search.
Ideal position is full sun.

Witzend Sun 10-May-20 09:17:29

Just had an email from the co. I ordered a few seeds from, advertising their own new super-rhubarb. (It’s D T Brown, if anyone wants to know - they say it’s much sweeter than the usual.)
Dh loves rhubarb - trouble is, we have a v small garden and just no space in back garden beds, either crammed with shrubs or deep shade.

I could however probably make space in the front garden for one plant. Will it look weird - and do I care even if it does?

Website doesn’t give any info on what situation rhubarb needs - full sun, part sun? Any rhubarb experts out there please? I could probably find a sun-for-half-the-day space for it, but not full sun.
Thank you for any advice!