Eaten as a fruit, but botanically a vegetable, rhubarb is so easy to grow and so good to eat that it deserves a place in every garden. It doesn’t need a lot of space: a round patch about 1m across on good soil, in sun or part shade, for a good-sized clump. Rhubarb is happy in full sun or part shade, but not in a really gloomy spot, and likes good fertile soil and generous feeding. It needs ample water in the growing season, but also good drainage as the roots hate to be waterlogged.

Prepare the site for each plant well, digging deeply, taking out every trace of perennial weeds and forking in a bucketful of well-rotted manure or garden compost. Plant each crown so the growth buds show just above soil level. If you are putting in more than one, they need to go in about 1m apart to allow for spread. Don't pull any stalks in the first year, and only a few in the second.

Established plants can be covered with a terracotta forcing pot (or upturned dustbin) in December and by February you should have an early crop of blanched stems. In theory, a pot-grown plant can be planted at any time. To be sure of plenty of succulent stems, add a generous annual top-dressing of well-rotted manure, or garden compost, and water copiously in long dry spells.