Topic: Forcing Rhubarb

[luckycharlie]

    Hi has anyone got any advice on forcing rhubarb.  When do I start and how do I do it!!

   Thanks in advance

  x Chas

[Fork]

I think you can start now.

Not something I do though because I have been told it weakens the plant for the following season.....but dont quote me on that.Im sure someone will know better.

[jimtheworzel]

PUT A LARGE BUCKET OVER THE CROWN OF THE PLANT, A BRICK TO HOLD IT DOWN IN THE WIND,   AND THATS IT


SORRY ME CAPS LOCK WAS ON

JIM

[grannyjanny]

I don't see you as a shouter Jim ;D.

[saddad]

Yes it will weaken the crown... most books advise throwing the forced crowns afterwards... but I think those are the lifted and forced indoors ones...  :-\

[Robert_Brenchley]

That's blanching not forcing. Blanching keeps the light out, resulting in a tenderer crop. Forcing adds warmth as well, producing an earlier and tenderer crop. The traditional way was to cover the rhubarb, then pile fresh manure round it. Not sure how else you could do it, unless you bring the root indoors. The root would be badly weakened - blanching wouldn't weaken it anything like as much - but would recover in time.

[pumkinlover]

Just think what we could get up to if we lived in houses with cellars!

[tonybloke]

to force rhubarb -
lift the crown in November, place on a pallet in a cold barn / shed. (frost-free)
in January, apply gentle heat ( +10. C) keep out all light. when harvesting, use head-lamp to see what you're doing.
discard crown after use.

to blanch rhubarb -
cover with a straw-filled barrel that has had both top and bottom removed. cover with poly tarp or similar to exclude water. harvest in late April / early May
after harvest, feed heavily and don't re-use for 3 yrs.

 ;)

[Robert_Brenchley]

If you force them that way, they'll be half dead by the time you get a crop. If you do it with the root in situ, with a dustbin or something similar, and fresh manure, it would come through the ordeal a lot better.

[luckycharlie]

   Hi

     Thank you for all your replies. A lot to think about. Didn't realise would not be able to use it again for such a long time.So think I might just be patient and leave it to grow naturally. Gardening isn't as easy as I thought ;D ;D In my wisdom or ignorance  I thought it would involve throwing a piece of plastic over it ;D ;D ;D Good job I asked.

  Went to the allotment today and it was sooo nice to be there.

Thanks everyone

XChas

[daitheplant]

An old ladyI go to has been forcing the same Rhubarb crown in a bottomless dustbin for over 20 years, getting a good crop every year. ;D

[tonybloke]

An old ladyI go to has been forcing the same Rhubarb crown in a bottomless dustbin for over 20 years, getting a good crop every year. ;D

but, she ain't 'forcing' it!!

[Robert_Brenchley]

That's blanching.

[daitheplant]

Sorry, I had a senior moment. ;D :-[