Summer is the main growing season for many popular plants, but rhubarb isn't one of them. The ruby red and green stalks fruit early, from mid-spring to mid-summer, with most plants ready for a rest by July or August. After your rhubarb patch has yielded a steady supply of tart, crimson stalks all season, the plant will bear large leaves - a sign it's ready to retire for the dormant season.

Picking the final stalks from the plant can be disappointing for rhubarb lovers, but it's an opportune time to prepare the crown for another year of vigorous growth. Many people know the importance of not overpacking rhubarb, and some suggest dividing the crown after it's finished for the summer, but mulching is another crucial job, notes the Jackson Nurseries team.

The gardening experts said: "Apply a thick mulch of well-rotted organic matter such as well-rotted manure, garden compost, bark, straw or grass clippings around the base of your rhubarb plants in spring and again at the end of the growing season to suppress weed growth and improve moisture retention."

Mulching is a very simple task, but a good technique will help rhubarb thrive. The Jackson Nurseries experts warned against spreading too much mulch around the rhubarb crowns to avoid burying them.

They noted: "Mulch will also help to achieve the rhubarb's preference for a damp summer and a dry winter."

Mulching isn't the only thing gardeners can do once they've stopped picking the fruit.

What to do with rhubarb plants after harvesting

Monty Don suggests that the leaves should be left alone after you stop picking rhubarb in July.

He urged: "Let the plant grow, let the leaves get really big and all that goodness that they take through photosynthesis will feed back into the roots and ensure a good harvest the following year."

Leaves are also beneficial for preventing weeds, though this is less important when there's no fruit to pick.

The Jacksons Nurseries team claim that insects and diseases "won't bother rhubarb plants", provided they are kept weed-free.

Established rhubarb plants are very productive once they get going, but this vigorous plant can get out of hand after a while.

Rhubarb develops from the outer part of its tuber, and as it enlarges, the centre gradually dies, resulting in an almost doughnut-shaped form. To keep it healthy, it should be divided every five to six years.

Divide each mature rhubarb plant into three or four crowns with the edge of a clean, sharp spade.

The pieces may seem small, but replanting them in well-manured, well-drained soil will encourage vigorous new growth and help expand your rhubarb bed.