Rhubarb

[kevin m.]

I've been giving Rhubarb away,left ,right, and centre-I've got loads of the stuff and people have been extraordinarily grateful for receiving it (hardly surprising when you seen how much supermarkets dare charge for it!)
In fact,I've been so busy giving it away that I haven't tried any of this year's crop myself yet!

[ina]

I'm new to cooking with rhubarb and I stewed some up with a bit of sugar but it coated my teeth with something

I'm afraid that's what rhubarb does - I get this strange feeling on my teeth, too. And I actually went and bought sugar, especially for the rhubarb season... Otherwise I use next to none, but rhubarb needs it.

Mine is almost ready for picking - next Sunday will be rhubarb crumble time!

[diver]

I've been giving lots away as well and I'm making lots of crumble ,but it does make delicious rhubarb and ginger jam

[diver]

ps it freezes well too

[Ranter]

Might be stating the obvious, but don't add sugar etc when you're stewing the fruit. It caramalises.

Add it later, when it's being made into crumble or pies. I like soft brown sugar with rhubarb, meself.

[Millymollymandy]

Might be stating the obvious, but don't add sugar etc when you're stewing the fruit. It caramalises.

Oh! I add it towards the end of the stewing (which only takes a few minutes with my rhubarb as it turns to mush) and I haven't seen anything caramelising. ??? Bit confused here?

[Bee]

Hi, this might be a stupid question, but I want to grow some rubarb and was wondering how to get some. I've looked around for seeds but haven't been able to find any in the shops. Someone mentioned earlier getting some roots from a neighbour - is this the best way to do it? What time of year should this be done at? Would most rubarb growers have roots to spare or should I only ask someone with too much (not sure on the etiquette of asking for cuttings etc from other gardeners yet!). Sorry if this stuff has been covered elsewhere - just point me there and I'll read all about it rather than going over the same old stuff again. Thanks!

[ina]

You can buy plants, at the garden centre or market... But they are sometimes bloody expensive. (Saw some at B&Q I think once for £5, and they looked awful... On the other hand, got a good one for £1.50 at a market a bit later.)

If you do know somebody who has a large, old plant in the garden - point out to him or her that that plant needs dividing up ! I did that with one of my plants this spring, and half of it is now growing in Shirlz' garden...

You can also grow them from seed, but that takes ages; I think that would only make sense if you need a lot of plants, because you want to do it commercially.

Whereabouts are you? Maybe a fellow SSisher is nearby and wants to get rid of some? However, it's not the right time of year just now. Do it before they start growing.

[ina]

Almost forgot:

Does anybody have a recipe for rhubarb wine? I've been offered more rhubarb... Only one of my plants is productive this year, so that's ok - but I still have jam from last year!

And has anybody tried using Sweet Cicily (sp.?) for sweetening rhubarb?

[Bee]

Thanks so much Ina! I'll try and hunt down a local rhubarb grower next spring and see how I get on. Unfortunatly there doesn't seem to be (m)any veg growers in the tennemants I've seen (I'm in Glasgow) but maybe if I hang around the local allotments long enough someone will take pity on me and my rhubarb-lessness

[ina]

Ah, a fellow Scot! Whereabouts in Glasgow are you? I worked just outside Glasgow for half a year not that long ago... Postal address was Clydebank, but we were almost right in the country.

Keep your eyes open for large rhubarb plants now - you won't see them in spring, when you need them. That gives you plenty of time to make friends with the owners, too...

[Shirley]

http://www.rhubarbinfo.com/recipe-wine.html loads of recipes here Ina..... not tried them myself though. Am sure someone posted some rhubarb wine recipes recently though - have you searched the site??

[ina]

Not yet - have to search for the equipment first... My dear friend gave away 23 demijohns not long ago - and didn't ask me first! She said nobody wanted them at the carboot sale....

Well, she'll never do that again.

[Shirley]

oops!! You could ask for some on freecycle - or have a look at carboot sales/jumble sales etc

[Shirley]

Actually - has anyone tried using a 5 litre water bottle as a demijohn?? Would it work...??? Got loads of these downstairs in the garage.