I have 2 old swing bin bases which I have put over some rhubarb. Do I need to cut holes in the bottom of them (which is now the top)? Is it necessary to have light for the stems to grow towards?
When do people normally cover the rhubarb? I have got a green cone that blew on my plot and nobody has claimed so I am going to use that.
In answer to tomatoada question, you want complete dark, commercial forces do not have anything brighter than a candle in their forcing sheds.
Thanks for reply. Hope to have some early rhubarb crumble.
What colour are the bins?
Any colour except black will let some light in.
I did this last year and the roots rotted into the ground :(
I have some green shoots on my 15 year old rhubarb plants. I have never covered them as I read somewhere that the plants die and have to be replaced each year if you do this. Is this true? As I love my rhubarb and would hate to be without for the rest of the year.
I force mine every year, some with the old traditional forcers, and some of the bigger crowns with those big black plastic composter things.
I only harvest the rhubarb for around half the year, and I get lbs and lbs. (don't like rhubarb that much so give it pretty well all away) Then I take off the forcers and let it grow unmolested for the rest of the year.
I should feed it but mostly forget so it gets a few handfuls of seaweed meal some years and then grass clippings round it to hold the weeds down. You can have say 4 crown and force 2 every other year, but my problem is keeping the stuff in check.
You do have to watch for slugs if you use a forcer but they are not too much of a problem. And some years mice can be troublesome, but not often.
suspect the slugs had mine they were find wednesday and gone sunday :(
I admit that I don't force my rhubarb as they are never really briliiant and i am afraid of damaging them. Some people say rhubarb is rampant, I don't find it to be so, but maybe I just stumbled onto rubbish plants? I think the rhubarb here is not as good as the varieties that you get in England.
It's probably too warm for it with you, it likes the English climate.
Quote from: dtw on January 17, 2012, 20:55:36
What colour are the bins?
Any colour except black will let some light in.
One is dark brown and the other cream.
Thanks for the other replies. I only cover some of my patch of rhubarb. I do think covering weakens the plant but I have enough to grow the rest without forcing.
I use to use an old bottomless bucket. That is why I asked if there needed to be some light at the top. Thanks crispy.