My First Rhubarb This Year

[salome2001]

I have mountains of rhubarb on the end of the plot, about 5 clumps worth. I noticed that some of the black plastic at the far end was bulging the other day and investigated- the rhubarb is about 20 cm high and looks divine!! I guess that was self-forcing!!!

[VirginVegGrower]

Sorry VVG, couldn't tell ya. Only bought it last year so couldn't pick from it. I did buy it from Yorkshire though, as anything else would not be proper. Brandy Carr Nurseries. I bought a 2-year old liquorice plant too, which I have just potted up into a large Longtom from Yorkshire Flowerpots to make sure it feels at home.

Did you go to Yorkshire Flowerpots factory shop? The bargains are out of this world. We're going again soon. Might go via Tuskie nurseries - aren't they the national collection holders?

[veggiechicken]

My rhubarb is of the tall and skinny variety - wish I was the same!! Not ready to pick yet.
I have about 30 teeny rhubarb seedlings of Glaskins Perpetual. sown last year. Maybe this year they're be large enough to plant out and I can grow my rhubarb forest!

[mrbadexample]

Did you go to Yorkshire Flowerpots factory shop? The bargains are out of this world. We're going again soon. Might go via Tuskie nurseries - aren't they the national collection holders?

No, I paid a fortune for it from a local independent garden centre!

Might drop in next time I'm up that way though.

[VirginVegGrower]

No, I paid a fortune for it from a local independent garden centre!

Might drop in next time I'm up that way though.

We bought the equivalent of about £300 for a sixth of the price - highly recommended. You have to go through it all! But the bargains are there.

[mrbadexample]

We bought the equivalent of about £300 for a sixth of the price - highly recommended. You have to go through it all! But the bargains are there.

I got one pot for about a sixth of £300.

I do like it though - it's from Yorkshire.

[VirginVegGrower]

I got one pot for about a sixth of £300.

I do like it though - it's from Yorkshire.

The big fluted one? £11!

[mrbadexample]

No, the big not-fluted one. £44.99!

[VirginVegGrower]

Still £11. You should make the journey. I bought both that day.

[mrbadexample]

If I'd known, I would have done.

[Peas'n'Kews]

My two got-from-my-dad crowns are just about ready to pick, and my Stockbridge arrow is just peaking about the soil.

Stockbridge arrow has long narrow leaves (like an, um, arrow) which is handy if you have less space.... Not sure about yield as I only planted it last year.

[winstonwobble]

having my first rhubarb today in a crumble picked more than i needed really as when i was pulling one of the stalks a lump came off as well with great fat bulbs on it if i plant it do you think it will root?

[Snadger]

..........was flattened by the wind blowing a double glazed unit on top of it!

[marchogaeth]

Have you ever tried forcing your rhubarb, Farmer? When mine starts to grow, I put a bin over the top of it. It grows faster, and is supposed to be more tender. It does deplete the plant's reserves a bit so you're not meant to do it every year. I do though, but I'm not too hard on the plant for the rest of the year, so it has plenty of time to replenish energy. It might depend what variety you have as to whether it would work for you.

I had to break up my crowns last autumn because they were so choked they were bolting every spring and struggling to grow properly. I had so many small crowns that I didn't need to plant them all on so, having seen the article in Decembers GYO, I stuck several in three big buckets in my tunnel and forced them. They were absolutely fantastic, tatsed like no rhubarb I've ever eaten, so sweet even the OH didn't use sugar! I've just thrown them out having cropped for nearly 8 weeks, one to two meals a week.

I've two old crowns I can do this again with next year and I'll deffinitely be trying the less destructive forcing in my garden after that. I think I read you could force a crown every two to three years.

[mrbadexample]

..........was flattened by the wind blowing a double glazed unit on top of it!

Where's the "dislike" button when you need it eh?