Rhubarb Apple Delight 9cm potted

• To force stems for an earlier crop, cover the crown with a traditional forcing jar, bucket or upturned pot in late winter, ensuring that all light is blocked out.
• When the stems reach the top of the container, they are ready for harvesting. Forced stems are lighter-coloured, more tender and sweeter.

Planting your rhubarb:

• Before planting, dig over the ground and remove all perennial weeds.
• Add compost or well-rotted manure into the soil. Don't add any additional fertiliser.
• Plant crowns in early spring in well-drained, fertile soil in full sun as soon as the ground is workable, when the roots are still dormant and before growth begins or plants are just beginning to leaf out.
• Potted plants can be planted out at any time.
• Dig large holes around twice the size of the root spread. Space rhubarb plants about 4 feet apart and plant the roots 2-5cm (1-2in) below the surface of the soil.
• After planting, mulch generously with a heavy layer of straw to retain moisture and discourage weeds.

Aftercare Advice for Rhubarb:

• Water your plant well.
• Remove flower stalks as soon as they appear.
• When the top growth dies back in autumn, remove the dead leaves to expose the crown to frost - this will help break dormancy and ensure a good crop of stalks the following year.
• Divide rhubarb roots every 3 to 4 years when plants are dormant in early spring or autumn.

Harvesting Advice for Rhubarb:

• For best results allow to establish for a season and pick sparingly in year two.  Expect heavy crops thereafter.
• To pick, hold the stalk at the base and pull it out of the ground, aiming to avoid snapping it off.