[nilsatis1964]

I have 3 Rhubarb crowns in a bed with nothing in between them is it possible to grow any thing else ar will the leaves smother anything?

[penance]

How much space between crowns?

Unless it is a large bed I doubt you will have space for anything else. Rhubarb wanst a good 3' or more between crowns.

[nilsatis1964]

It is a big bed with about 5 foot betwen crowns.  Should I move the crowns closer together and use the other half of the bed?

[DavidT]

I agree with Penance, you may get away with something quick growing like radish, but not much else. Unless there is plenty of room between the crowns.

[Hobnails]

I would try to make use of the extra space by growing something above the leaves
of the rhubarb - such as Cobra Climbing  Beans on a cane wigwam.
You'll not get much from the beans at the lower level as they will be smothered by the rhubarb, but you will get beans at the higher level above their leaves.

You might also benefit from the nitrogen fixed by the beans at the back end of the year
-when the rhubarb dies back- by planting  a winter brassica where the beans grew.

[blackbob]

I have 3 Rhubarb crowns in a bed with nothing in between them is it possible to grow any thing else ar will the leaves smother anything?

i'd leave them alone to fill the new RHUBARB bed.

[Lardman]

i'd leave them alone to fill the new RHUBARB bed.

I agree  Such an undervalued plant.

I looked at mine today - it had 4-5 stems about 14" long, I was so tempted to pinch just one, it would have been stewed and covered in custard within minutes.

[penance]

Also if you have sorted the bed for rhubarb then the soil may not be suitable for many other crops. Rhubarb likes a slightly acidic soil.

I really would leave it as is. There may be some mileage with the bean idea but cant think of anything else useful you could do.

[Loubs]

I've been wondering the same thing. Given how much shade the canopy of rhubarb leaves will create, I was thinking along the lines of woodland plants, so thought ransoms might do well. Or I might just plant some spring-flowering bulbs in amongst the crowns.