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Rhubarb is a temperate-climate crop and doesn’t like high temperatures. It will tolerate a wide variety of soils, as long as they are rich and well drained. You need to use a lot of well-rotted manure when planting, and a high-nitrogen supplement when the rhubarb is mature.
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Plant 3-4′ apart. Dig a hole 18″ wide and 2-3′ deep. Fill the hole to within 12″ of the top with packed down, well-rotted manure or rich compost. Some bone meal mixed in is also beneficial. Bury the crown 2-3″ deep and firm the soil above it. Keep the soil moist, free of weeds and other vegetation, and in workable condition. When the plants are 4-5″ tall, apply mulch of straw or hay. Side-dress with rotted manure through summer and fall. Remove any seed heads as they appear. For best results, wait until the second year to harvest, and then pick only lightly. The third year should yield a good crop. When the ground freezes in the fall, cover the bed with well-rotted manure or rich compost.