Rhubarb

[Mr-H]

I have just bought a new rhubarb crown. Can I grow it in a plastic bucket which measures apprx 15" deep by 13" wide? Does it need anything special?

[buildersmate]

You could try, but it would be a lot happier directly in the ground. You are going to have to make sure you put lots of drainage holes in the bottom and crocks / grit in the bottom 2" or so.
Rhubarb responds to well-rotted manure.
Don't take stems off in the first year.

[Mr-H]

I just seem to remember seeing them (on TV) being grown in dustbins or something similar. I was going to use broken polystyrene pieces to enable drainage.

[rowanwitch]

That was for forcing to get the early sweet stalks... trouble is it drains the crown and it then needs to go in the ground for a couple of years to build up again...

[Ratty2E]

I agree you would be better to put it in the ground if you can. Rhubarb likes well drained soil and is quite deep rooted. I think it would soon outgrow the bucket and ideally you should divide the plant every 5 years or so.

[Exmothian]

Rhubarb is what is known as a gross feeder ... It needs plenty of muck and will not thrive in a container. My granddad used to empty the chamber pot out of the window onto his ... Beautiful stuff ! If you want to force it, a portion should be dug up and left over winter out in the frost, then it is possible to pot up and cover ,to keep in the dark, with a bottomless bin or suchlike to produce tender stems. This process will exhaust the crown which can however be replanted, but let it grow without picking for a year or two to recover.