Rhubarb
Rheum × hybridum
Rhubarb is the most faithful crop in the garden — planted once, it returns year after year for decades. The tart, vivid red stems make the finest crumbles, jams, and fools. Force it in late winter by covering the crowns and you can harvest the first pink stems while snow may still be on the ground.
SowingStart indoors
Sunlight☀️ Full sun
Water💧💧 Moderate
Days to harvest365–730
Soil pH6–6.8
Spacing90cm × 90cm
Planting Calendar
Sow indoorsSow outdoorsTransplantHarvest
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Planting
Buy dormant crowns (offsets) rather than growing from seed. Plant in winter with the buds just visible above the soil surface, 90cm apart. Do not harvest in the first year — allow the plant to establish.Forcing
To harvest early pink stems in late January–February, cover dormant crowns with an upturned dustbin or terracotta forcer. The forced stems will be pale pink and more tender. Remove the forcer after 6 weeks and allow the plant to recover.Annual Feeding
Top-dress with a generous mulch of well-rotted manure each autumn. Rhubarb is a hungry plant and poor soil means spindly, sour stems.Soil: Rich, deeply-cultivated, moisture-retentive loam. Well-rotted manure dug in generously.