How to grow rhubarb in a raised bed

Rhubarb is a handsome, hardy perennial grown for its tart red stalks — the backbone of crumbles and jams. Plant a crown in a raised bed and it'll reward you every spring for years with almost no effort.

Quick facts

• Position: full sun to part shade
• Spacing: one plant per 1 m
• Tub depth: our 41 cm depth; permanent
• Time to harvest: light picking from year 2

When to plant: Plant crowns in winter to early spring into a permanent spot — rhubarb crops for many years, so give it room. It grows best where winters are cool. Our free planting calendar shows the right months for your postcode.

Growing it in a raised bed: Plant the crown with the bud just at the surface in rich, free-draining mix. Don't harvest the first year while it establishes. Remove flower stalks as they appear to keep energy in the stems. Note: only the stalks are edible — the leaves are toxic.

Watering and feeding: Water well through the warm months and feed generously each spring — rhubarb is a hungry, thirsty plant.

Common pests: keep an eye out for aphids and slugs and snails. Most are easily managed — see our safe pest guide.

Common diseases: the main ones are leaf spot. Good airflow, morning watering and steady moisture prevent most.

Companion plants: A long-lived perennial; give it a permanent corner of a bed. See our companion planting guide.

Harvest and storage: From year two, pull (don't cut) the outer stalks by twisting them from the base, taking no more than half at once. Discard the leaves — they're poisonous.

More growing guides: asparagus, globe artichokes and sorrel.

Plan your patch: our free planting calendar shows what to plant now where you live. Ready to grow? Browse our raised garden beds or build your own with the garden bed builder.

Image: Dieter Weber (User:Uellue), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.