Time to ‘force’ that trendy rhubarb for this year’s crop
Rhubarb is a traditional allotment favourite that’s become very trendy again, especially when it is forced, and now’s the time to do it. Using an established plant, cover the crown with straw and place a large bucket over the top to exclude light.
You can use a traditional terracotta forcer, like these ones pictured at RHS Harlow Carr – but they’re really expensive and a cheap bucket works just as well.
The pale pink, tender stems can be harvested about eight weeks after covering.
Don’t force the same crown for two years in a row, as it weakens the plant.
If you can wait for a natural crop, all the better, as patience is needed for a rhubarb plant to build itself up.
Pot-grown rhubarb can be planted at any time, in an open, sunny site with free-draining soil. With crowns, plant late autumn-early winter. You can plant later, but run the risk of crown rot.
If you planted new crowns in autumn, don’t harvest during the first year. Remove a few stems the next year, then up to a third or half from then on. It’s best to stop cropping by June (unless you have an autumn-cropping cultivar), or at least only remove a few stalks after then – older varieties often -go stringy then and the plant needs the sustenance.
HOW TO GROW GUIDE
Planting time (pot grown): Anytime. Crowns: October-December. Harvesting time: early spring (forced) to midsummer; autumn for late varieties.
Planting distance: Space plants 75-90cm (30-36in) apart, with 30cm (12in) between rows.
Aspect and soilL: Sunny, welldrained soil (will tolerate some shade). Hardiness: Hardy. Difficulty: Easy. Recommended varities: Timperley Early: Thick stems, early, high yield. Bred for forcing; performs very well outside, but even better colour when forced. Victoria: Late (summer) type with heavy yields. Hawke’s Champagne: Compact plants with high yield potential. It has bright red, medium length, uniform stems. Livingstone: Autumn cropping, from September to November.
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