Best place to plant rhubarb

Frugalista

Hi, I am a total newbie to growing anything so please be gentle .

I have been given a rhubarb crown in a little pot (it's just got some tiny buds on it) and am not sure where is the best place to plant it. I do have a good sized garden - but, as we have 9 large dogs, it is not much more than mud and weeds .

Obviously, I want to plant it where it won't get pee'd on - but should it be in a sunny/shady/well-drained/damp/sheltered/exposed area?? I have heard rhubarb is pretty tough but would like to give it a fighting chance. I have bought a big bag of potting compost and the farmer has just dumped a big pile of rotted manure in the field next to us, ready to spread, so I could go and get a few buckets full of that .

I was also wondering if I could/should plant it in a couple of tyres to A) offer it a bit of protection from the dogs and so that I could just add more tyres and a lid when I needed to force it (I know nothing about forcing BTW - just know it's somethng you do with rhubarb ).

Any advice gratefully received. Thank you .

conradmum

Rhubarb likes shade, damp and rich soil. Having said that, it'll grow in most situations. The tyres sound like a reasonably good idea to protect it from the dogs (also to protect the dogs from it - did you know the leaves are poisonous?) but it will outgrow them quite fast. It would like well-rotted manure mixed into the soil in its planting hole. (Manure delivered to your doorstep - you're so lucky! I rarely get a few horse droppings round here. :rotfl:)

Frugalista

Thank you for that. Would under a tree be suitable?

PS: I know the leaves are poisonous - luckily my dogs don't chew plants, etc.

level200

Can I plant Rubarb in a pot?

irishwexford

Our neighbour on allotment (he has been there years) gave us some crowns last year but he said they should not be planted too near a tree. If you have a compost heap in your garden you could just pop it in there assuming the dogs do not climb onto it.

Lotus-eater

Yes you can plant rhubarb in a pot, if it's big enough, but it will be much happier in the ground if you possibly can.

Alot of feedback that comes back about rhubarb is contradictory, some say it does well under trees and in any conditions, I find it doesn't do well under trees and does best in sunny conditions, the best I've ever grown was on a small mound which would have been drier than around.

Putting in on a compost heap is ok short term, but rhubarb will be in the same place for years and doesn't like to be moved, so think about losing your compost heap before you put it there.

Frugalista

conradmum wrote: »

Rhubarb likes shade, damp and rich soil.

Lotus-eater wrote: »

does best in sunny conditions, the best I've ever grown was on a small mound which would have been drier than around.

OK! Now I'm totally confused :huh: - and I was hoping to plant it this weekend . Anyone else got any advice??

annie123

bbc...........

• All varieties develop a deep root system and grow best in a fertile, partially shaded, free-draining soil.

National Veg society.....

• Rhubarb is not fussy as to soil but should be planted in slightly raised beds if the soil is very heavy. It does, however, need an open site as it will not tolerate shade.

Self sufficient.co.uk......

• Rhubarb grows best in a sunny position, although it will tolerate some shade. It prefers neutral soil

RHS.........

• Choose a sunny open site in which to plant your rhubarb crown as rhubarb does not grow well in shade

It will grow anywhere that is not water logged, or in deep shade

A._Badger

Lotus Eater is right. Rhubarbs do like sun and you need to be careful with damp soil. Over the years I have lost two to crown rot and that is usually caused by excessive damp allowing a bacterium in. It is far better to plant it, as he says, on a slight hump, or, as they do in Yorkshire (where they know a thing or two about rhubarb), on a ridge.