Planting rhubarb in October: it all comes down to the bud
A good rhubarb crown stays put for ten years or more. Plant it this autumn and you lay the foundation – and planting depth is what matters most.
Rhubarb is one of the most rewarding perennials in the garden: plant it well once and it delivers stalks every spring. October is an excellent time for it, because the soil is still warm and moist and the roots can settle in before winter. Here is what matters for site, depth and patience.
A spot for a decade
Rhubarb grows old right where you plant it and rarely likes being moved. Pick a sunny to partly shaded spot with deep, humus-rich soil that does not get waterlogged. A sheltered position helps, because the large leaves tend to snap in strong wind. The plant itself is fully hardy and copes with hard frost, but not with waterlogging. Allow about one metre in every direction: a mature plant produces leaves that can shade a whole square metre.
Preparing the soil
Rhubarb is a heavy feeder. First clear out any pernicious weeds such as ground elder or couch grass thoroughly, because they are hard to pull once the rhubarb leaves have closed over them. Loosen the planting spot to spade depth and work in a generous shovelful of ripe compost, plus a little sand in heavy soils. Fresh manure should not touch the roots; use only well-rotted manure.
The bud decides
Plant the crown so that the thick terminal bud sits about two to three centimetres below the soil surface; where frosts are harsh, a thin layer of soil on top is fine. Planted too deep, the crown rots; too shallow, it dries out or suffers more in cold winters. Water in well afterwards and mulch with leaves or grass clippings. Keep the bud itself free or only thinly covered, so it does not rot.
Divide old clumps instead of buying new
If you or a neighbour have an older plant that produces thinner stalks after many years, you can divide it now. Cut off a piece with at least one or two strong buds and replant it as described. That rejuvenates the plant and gives you free offspring.
Patience in year one, harvest with restraint
In the first spring after planting, leave the rhubarb alone and do not harvest, so it can build strength. In the second year you can harvest lightly, and fully from the third year. Pull the stalks sideways instead of cutting them, never take all at once, and traditionally stop around Midsummer’s Day (24 June). Snap off any flower stalks that push up from the centre in spring, otherwise flowering costs the plant a lot of energy. Important: the leaves are not edible, as they contain a lot of oxalic acid. Best compost them and keep them away from children and pets. Eat the stalks cooked and in moderation too.
Keep it in your garden diary
Note the planting date, variety and location, and in ten years you will still know exactly when the plant went in. If you plan your beds in Rootivo, treat rhubarb as a fixed spot in your crop rotation, one that does not move on.