Yes, you can grow rhubarb in containers as long as you pick a pot that's big enough and has good drainage holes at the bottom. The plant won't care whether its roots sit in the ground or in a large container on your patio. It just needs enough room to spread out and enough water to stay happy through the growing season. Plenty of apartment and condo gardeners grow rhubarb this way with great results.
I started my own rhubarb container gardening project on a small patio three years ago. I used a 20-gallon fabric pot filled with a mix of compost and potting soil. The plant grew well that first summer, but I learned fast that container rhubarb drinks water much faster than plants in the ground. Some hot weeks I had to water every single day to keep the soil from drying out. Once I got the watering schedule down, the stalks came in thick and red just like my in-ground plants.
Rhubarb pot size matters more than most people think. The root system on a mature rhubarb plant can reach down 2 feet (61 centimeters) into the soil. A short, cramped pot chokes those roots and cuts your stalk production in half or worse. Go with a container that holds at least 15 to 20 gallons and measures at least 18 inches deep. Wider is better too because the crown spreads outward as it grows each year. A half whiskey barrel works great if you want something that looks nice on a deck or patio.
Extension sources confirm that raised beds work well for rhubarb because they provide loose soil and good drainage. Container growing gives you those same benefits in a smaller space. The key is using a rich potting mix that holds moisture but doesn't stay soggy. I blend equal parts compost, peat moss, and perlite for a mix that drains fast while still feeding the roots. Avoid using garden soil alone in pots because it compacts and starves the roots of air. Bad drainage will rot the crown before you even get your first harvest.
Container rhubarb needs more food than plants in the ground. Water flushes nutrients out of the pot each time you give it a drink. Add a balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring when new growth starts to show. Toss a handful of compost on top halfway through summer to keep the plant fed. A 2-inch layer of mulch on the soil surface holds moisture in and keeps the roots cool on hot days. Wood chips or straw both work well for this job.
Winter is where container rhubarb gets tricky. Roots in the ground stay insulated by the earth around them. Roots in a pot don't have that protection. A hard freeze can crack the pot and kill the crown in one cold night. Move your container to an unheated garage or shed once the plant goes dormant in late fall. If you can't move it, wrap the pot with bubble wrap or burlap and pile 6 inches of straw around the base. The goal is to keep the crown cold enough for dormancy but safe from repeated freeze-thaw swings.
You can grow rhubarb in containers for years if you give it room, water, and winter protection. Start with a big enough pot, use a good soil mix, and don't skip the fertilizer. Check the soil moisture every morning during summer because pots dry out fast in the heat. Your patio rhubarb will reward you with thick, fresh stalks every spring just like a plant growing in the ground.
Read the full article: Growing Rhubarb: Expert Advice for Success
