When to plant
July, August, September

How to plant
Rhubarb prefers pH of 5.5-6.5. Prepare bed with compost and aged manure. Plant crowns, divided from a parent plant, 1 metre apart. Ensure the crown has several buds.

Rhubarb prefers to grow in temperate and cold regions so it’s important to grow rhubarb in Charlie’s Community Garden a cool moist spot with only early morning sunlight.

Care: Ensure soil is nutrient rich, top dressing with compost and blood and bone in late Winter. Keep moist at all times and regular applications of liquid organic fertiliser will increase production.

Harvest: Each plant should produce 6-8 stalks to harvest during the warmer months. Carefully remove the whole mature stalk from the base. Do not cut stalks off as this can enable rotting of the plant.

Do not eat leaves as they contain oxalic acid.

Troubleshooting: Rhubarb is not affected by many pests however, it will die if soil is allowed to dry out.

Occasional white flowering stalks should be removed by pulling the stalk out carefully from the base.