Once you have established your plants the first basic principle of rhubarb growing is that plants should be kept dry in winter and moist in summer. A covering of leaves applied in October and removed in February will help in winter and a mulch of compost, leaf mould or farm yard manure applied in April will keep moisture in the soil during the summer. Always make sure, however, that the soil is thoroughly moist before applying this summer mulch. If in doubt water well in dry seasons. The second basic principle is to remember that rhubarb is essentially a leaf crop no leaves, no stems and that leaf crops need nitrogen. If you use farm yard manure for your summer mulch additional nitrogen will probably not be needed but a light dressing of nitrogenous fertiliser in March seldom goes amiss. Most of the rhubarb I see on the showbench, or on allotments, shows signs of chronic starvation

Address: Bracklinn, 14 Dronley Road, Birkhill, Dundee, DD2 5QD
Telephone: 01382 580394
Website: http://www.nvsuk.org.uk/growing_show_vegetables_1/growing-rhubarb.php