Rhubarb is a striking plant with bold red stalks and leafy green tops that will add a striking visual charm to your allotment and tangy flavour to your table. Whether you’re making a Sunday crumble or a festive jam, rhubarb brings a sweet, nostalgic comfort to every dish.
If you are into gardening, growing rhubarb should be on your list. It’s packed with nutritional value as it supports digestion, bone strength, and heart health, and it’s known for its anti-inflammatory benefits. But this perennial favourite does take a little patience. You’ll typically wait three years before enjoying your first full harvest, but once established, it can provide delicious crops for over a decade.
Though technically a vegetable, rhubarb is used like a fruit, which is why you’ll find it in our Fruit section! Read on to learn how to grow rhubarb successfully in your allotment.
Rhubarb is a hardy perennial with a robust root system. With minimal fuss and effort required, growing rhubarb in the UK is ideal thanks to its tolerance of cold winters.
It’s best to grow rhubarb from crowns (root cuttings), rather than the seed. Plant dormant crowns between October and March. You can also buy established plants to grow during cooler months, but avoid planting in hot, dry conditions.
Soil & Location Tips
Rhubarb needs plenty of room to spread, thanks to the size of its roots. It isn’t well suited to grow rhubarb in containers, so choose a sunny, open spot in your allotment with well-drained soil. Avoid areas prone to waterlogging, which can rot the crown.
Before planting, enrich the soil with compost or well-rotted manure. Dig a hole about an inch deep and position the crown with the top just below the soil surface. Water well after planting and mulch around the base to retain moisture.
Ongoing Care
Keep the area weed-free and water regularly, especially during dry spells. When growing rhubarb, it can be fed with fertiliser in spring and summer to encourage healthy growth. If conditions become too dry, growth may slow or stop altogether.
Forcing Rhubarb
You can encourage early crops by forcing the stems. Cover the crown with an upturned bucket or bin to block out light. This causes the stalks to grow longer and more tender. However, don’t force the same plant every year. Wait at least 2 to 3 years between attempts to avoid weakening it.
Important Note
Only eat the reddish-pink stalks. Rhubarb leaves are toxic but can be composted. Also, remove any flowering (seed) stalks as soon as they appear to keep the plant productive.
When growing rhubarb in the UK, you need to choose the right variety. This will depend on your local weather conditions and flavour profile. It’s a good idea to speak to your local garden store, or you can always ask the gardening community at Allotment Online.
Here are some popular varieties of rhubarb:
Growing rhubarb requires patience. So, if you are wondering when to pick rhubarb, it is usually ready to harvest in its second year. However, it only takes a few stems in the first year to help the plant take root. From year three onwards, you can harvest freely between March and July.
When stems are thick, firm, and around 30cm long, gently twist and pull from the base and avoid cutting, as this can cause rot. Stop harvesting by midsummer so the plant can recover before winter.
To propagate older plants, dig them up in winter, split the crown into sections, remove damaged bits, and replant in spring.
Rhubarb can be stewed and frozen, added to preserves, or even eaten raw (though it’s usually best cooked).
Growing Rhubarb
Harvesting Rhubarb
Are you excited to grow your own vibrant rhubarb at home? Allotment Online offers tips, tools, and growing guides to help gardeners of all levels.
Once you’ve mastered rhubarb, try your hand at other fruits, veg, or herbs - we’ve got a guide and a community to help with it all!
Got tips or a tasty rhubarb recipe? Join our community and share your growing story!
Are you looking for tips on growing cranberries, microgreens or leeks? Head to our Grow Your Own page for tips on growing fruit, veg, nuts and herbs!
