| Most people think that growing rhubarb is so easy that | | | | bear in mind that you will not be able to dig the |
| they don't have to do anything. The rhubarb will simply | | | | immediate surrounding area of soil once the plant is |
| grow itself. To some extent this is true; rhubarb is a | | | | established. With all this in mind, find the best place in |
| very hardy plant that will thrive in the face of the most | | | | your garden for growing rhubarb. |
| disadvantageous conditions, but it is also an extremely | | | | Neutral soil conditions work well for rhubarb. Prepare |
| versatile plant that responds well to a little care and | | | | the soil by digging it down to around two feet or so in |
| attention. You will get so much more from it as a | | | | depth. Use plenty of organic matter in the soil while |
| result, and now in winter is the ideal time to think about | | | | digging as this will be the last chance you will have to |
| growing rhubarb, either by planting, or by giving your | | | | add anything to the soil. Growing rhubarb means |
| existing rhubarb some care and attention. | | | | leaving it alone once it becomes established. You |
| Rhubarb is a Siberian plant, which helps to explain its | | | | should prepare the soil about a month or so before the |
| hardiness to frosts. In fact, it actually needs frosts for a | | | | actual planting time. Late autumn or even December is |
| time each winter in order to produce stalks that are of | | | | a good time for planting rhubarb, although they can |
| the best quality. A period of time with temperatures | | | | also be planted in early spring. Pay attention to any |
| just above freezing is needed to stimulate growth. | | | | weeds in the soil. This is the time to get rid of them as |
| Rhubarb is among the first of a garden's plants to | | | | it won't be so easy later on. |
| appear in early spring, often at a time when nothing | | | | Growing rhubarb from seed is possible, but it will take |
| else in the garden is even thinking about peeping | | | | around a year longer to produce good stalks. For this |
| above ground. | | | | reason, growing rhubarb is best achieved by growing |
| If you are growing rhubarb for the first time, choose | | | | from rhubarb crowns. Plant the crowns about four |
| the location where it will grow carefully. Rhubarb | | | | inches deep with the buds about two inches below the |
| doesn't like the blazing sun too much, so choose a | | | | surface. Growing rhubarb is not particularly difficult. |
| more secluded part of the garden. An area exposed | | | | Once done the plant will practically look after itself and |
| to partial sun works best. Bear in mind that the plant | | | | produce delicious rhubarb for years to come. |
| will stay where it is planted for 10 years or more. Also | | | | |