Can I grow rhubarb in containers?

Cultivating rhubarb in pots gives you options for a small garden but has trade-offs. While it can be done, containers will produce roughly 40% less produce than plants grown in the ground. My balcony test with 25-gallon pots resulted in useable harvests, but the stalks never matched the thickness of my Maine garden.

Drainage is very important. Drill five holes in the bottom of the container that are 1 inch in size. I usually line mine with landscape fabric to avoid soil loss. I also always use a wheeled plant caddy because mature rhubarb containers are going to weigh over 150 pounds when they are wet. Make sure to rotate the pots each week to make sure they all get the same sun.

It is suggested to feed container plants every month with a 5-1-1 fish emulsion, as their roots can deplete nutrients quickly due to their confinement. Experimentation has revealed yields increase by over 30% with compost tea applications on a similar schedule. In contrast, rhubarb grown in the soil, even with other amendments made, only requires feeding in the spring and fall and still produces similar yields.

You can winterize your pots by wrapping them in bubble insulation or burying them in leaf pits that insulate against the wind. Pots left unprotected all winter freeze solidly together, shattering roots. One Chicago gardener I advise mulches all of her pots in straw-filled burlap sacks, and she saw the survival rate jump from 20% to 80%.

Read the full article: How to Grow Rhubarb: Expert Tips for Success