Rhubarb Forcer

[Muddy_Boots]

Just bought this from Garden 4 Less:



Cost £56.99 with free delivery, came in a huge box and weighs a ton, terracotta is really thick and was really packed well in straw got plenty of straw now for my big Strawberry bed for free this year now so won't have to buy any - result.

Going to use it on my massive crown to see if it makes the Rhubarb sweeter. Have 2 Rhubarb plants, the second is called XXL and its 3 years old so should have a big crop of conventional sticks from that one.

[Guest]

Very nice, shame my budget doesn't stretch that far. Will have to stick to buckets

[Bill Door]

Nice looking pot. decent price. a couple of suggestions.

1) put a plastic bag or newspaper between the lid and the top of the pot. Will wedge top into the pot and no light can get in.

2) make sure you can put your arm to the bottom of the pot so that you can "pull" the sticks from the lowest point possible (to prevent breaking and rotting in the pot). Watch out because the "sticks" can be a bit slippery.

3) make sure the bottom of the pot is larger than the crown of the rhubarb. Try to pile soil over the lower lip of the pot.

I splashed out on a plysu dustbin years ago and it works a treat. The only problem is slipping the bin back over when I have pulled my sticks. Forcing is highly recommended.

Good luck

Bill

[Bren In Pots]

I like the look of that Muddy.

[Muddy_Boots]

I like the look of that Muddy.

Bren it looks exactly as the picture and weighs a ton, was widest they make and sure it covers the crown as I measured it on Sunday.

Thanks for the tips as well Bill Door, first one I've bought and first time I'm trying this so want to make sure I get it right first time. Certainly going to use some newspaper to wedge the lid tight shut so it makes a seal against light getting in.

Rhubarb crumble here we come.

[Root66]

This season i have several crowns of rhubarb, i'm currently forcing a couple. Since covering with a pot they have been motoring, it just got me thinking, is it possible to part-force a crown. By that i mean, next season can cover with a pot to get an early initial burst of an inch or so and then remove pot. Will this still count as forcing and put the crown under stress or just give it a push for an earlier start to it's normal growing season.

[Snadger]

These rhubarb forcer's look really nice. If it was from gardens 4 less, God forbid what gardens 4 more would charge.

Think my next project will have to be building a potters wheel and kiln and knocking a few of these up!

I'll sell them cheap for £55.00.

[Stan79]

I was very lucky to get one from a family friend who happened to have one in her garden as an ornament. It's definitely working but as above, i think they need something to block all the light at the top so a seal for the lid is a good idea! The plastic bins i used last year worked a treat so i'm interested to see of the real thing is any better. It does look prettier!