Rhubarb 'Raspberry Red'

Planting Your Rhubarb
Choose a sunny or lightly shaded position with fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil. Rhubarb can stay productive in the same spot for many years, so prepare the ground well before planting with plenty of well-rotted manure or garden compost.

Planting Crowns
Plant crowns with the growing point at soil level or just visible above the surface, spacing plants around 75–90cm apart. Water well after planting. If you can't plant straight away, keep the crowns somewhere cool and keep the roots moist, then plant as soon as possible.

Planting Potted Plants
Potted rhubarb can be planted straight into its final position. Plant at the same depth it was growing in the pot, gently firm the soil around the root ball and water thoroughly.

Growing in Containers
Rhubarb can also be grown in a large container filled with good-quality compost. Make sure the pot has good drainage and water regularly, particularly during warm, dry weather. Container-grown plants will need more frequent watering and feeding than those growing in the ground.

Watering & Feeding
Water during prolonged dry spells and feed in spring as growth gets underway. An annual mulch of well-rotted manure or garden compost will help retain moisture and improve the soil, but keep it clear of the crown itself.

Top Tip
Remove any flower stems as soon as they appear. This helps the plant put its energy into developing strong stems and building up the crown rather than producing flowers and seed.

When to Harvest
‘Raspberry Red’ is naturally early cropping, producing sweet red stems from around April without needing to be forced. Established plants can be harvested through spring and into early summer.

Give New Plants Time
Avoid harvesting newly planted crowns during their first growing season so they can establish a strong root system. In the second year, harvest only a few stems. Once plants are well established, you can harvest more freely, but always leave plenty of healthy stems and foliage on the plant.

How to Pick Rhubarb
Harvest the strongest, well-developed stems by holding each stalk close to its base and pulling firmly with a gentle twist. The stalk should come cleanly away from the crown rather than needing to be cut.

When to Stop
Finish your main harvest by early summer so the remaining foliage can continue feeding the crown and building up reserves for the following year.

Top Tip
Don't strip the plant bare, even when it's producing strongly. Pick a few of the best-developed stems at a time and leave plenty of healthy foliage to keep the crown vigorous for next year's crop.

What is Forcing?
Forcing is a simple way to encourage rhubarb to produce an earlier crop. By covering an established crown in winter to exclude the light, the plant produces pale, tender stems several weeks earlier than it would naturally.

No Need to Force
One of the advantages of ‘Raspberry Red’ is its naturally early crop. Established plants produce sweet, red stems from around April without forcing, so you don't need to cover the crown to enjoy an early harvest.

For an Even Earlier Crop
If you'd like rhubarb even earlier, cover a strong, established crown in winter with a traditional rhubarb forcer or a tall upturned container to exclude the light. Check it regularly and harvest the stems once they're long enough to use.

Give the Crown Time to Recover
Forcing uses some of the plant's stored reserves, so don't force newly planted rhubarb or the same crown every year. Once harvesting has finished, uncover the plant and allow it to grow normally and rebuild its strength.

Top Tip
Growing more than one rhubarb plant makes forcing much easier. Force one established crown for an extra-early crop, then give it time to recover while you harvest normally from the others the following year.

From Plot to Kitchen
The sweet flavour and rich red colour of ‘Raspberry Red’ make it particularly good for classic rhubarb crumbles and pies. It's also delicious in cakes, compotes, fools and homemade jams.

Save Some for Later
Rhubarb freezes well if you have more than you can use at once. Wash and trim the stalks, cut them into pieces and freeze them ready for cooking later in the year.

Remove the Leaves
Only the stalks are edible. Remove and discard the leaves after harvesting, as rhubarb leaves should not be eaten.

Rhubarb Crowns
Choose crowns if you prefer to plant rhubarb while it is dormant. Your collection will contain three dormant crowns, carefully packaged and ready to plant. They may have little or no visible top growth when they arrive – this is completely normal. Crowns are despatched from November.

Potted Rhubarb Plants
Choose potted plants for established young rhubarb plants already growing in nursery pots. Your collection will contain three potted plants, ready to plant straight into their final positions on arrival. Depending on the time of year, they may already have leaves and stems. Potted plants are despatched from April.

What to Expect Through the Seasons
Rhubarb is a hardy herbaceous perennial, so its appearance naturally changes throughout the year. Plants grow strongly through spring and early summer before the foliage dies back later in the year. The crowns remain dormant through winter before producing fresh new growth the following spring.

Can't Plant Your Crowns Straight Away?
Keep them somewhere cool and keep the roots moist, but don't leave them stored for longer than necessary. Plant as soon as conditions allow, avoiding frozen or waterlogged ground.