The first year I had my plot I was thrilled to discover it coming through in an area that I had thought was just grass and weeds. I left mine where it was the first year and had a generous supply of rhubarb sticks that year. We had rhubarb and custard and rhubarb crumble on the menu quite a lot that year.
Last year because I dug some up and split and replanted most of the plants
I was unable to harvest from them so my crop was reduced. This year I am hoping for a good harvest as the replanted ones were treated to being planted in an area that had been enriched with well rotted horse manure.
If you wish to force rhubarb in your vegetable patch or on your allotment start to look for a suitable plant/plants and also something to cover it with.
To Force Rhubarb:
- Clear away any debris such as old leaves from around the plant crown.
- Place a few handfuls of dry straw over the plant.
- Cover it up with a large upturned bucket or dustbin. Or if you wish to make an attractive feature of it in your vegetable garden and money is no object buy a terracotta rhubarb forcer. (I would not risk this on an allotment).
