Timperley Early Rhubarb (1 Crown)

Commonly regarded as the earliest maturing variety, Timperley Early Rhubarb is perfect for forcing, providing tasty tender pink stems.

A perfect choice for first-time vegetable growers, it flourishes without too much attention, bearing delicious stalks to stew and eat with porridge at breakfast, or to use as an ingredient in crumbles and tarts. This heavy yielding, very popular, main crop variety has a tangy (not sour) flavour and will crop for many years.

It is also ready to harvest in early spring when little else is available, making it one of the most prized crops in the vegetable garden. When forced it can be harvested as early as February.

Plant rhubarb crowns from autumn to spring in a rich soil which includes plenty of well rotted compost/manure if available. Remove any weeds and plant so that the top of the crown is just level with the surface of the soil. Plant firmly, treading the soil around the roots. Water well and keep the soil moist during the growing season.

Harvest ideally between April and June, making sure not to pull any stems for the first season, allowing the plant to become established. Only pulling a few in the second season will be beneficial to the plant. Make sure to cease pulling by the end of July to allow the plant to build up its strength again. Freshly pulled stems should be used within a day or two.

• Pack size: 1 crown
• Recipient of the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit
• When to plant: March, April, September, October
• When to harvest: March, April, May, June (February when forced)
• Planting depth: Plant on surface
• Spacing: 90cm/36"
• Soil type: Moist but well-drained
• Soil pH: Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
• Sunlight: Full sun
• Hardiness: Hardy in most places throughout the UK, even in severe winters (-15 to -10)