First fruit crop of the year!

[Millymollymandy]

Forced rhubarb! I picked a bunch and made into apple and rhubarb crumble last night. It was sooooo much nicer than the stringy tough green stalks I normally get from my triffids.

I lifted a couple of plants (which were overcrowded anyway) and replanted in black dustbins. Originally I was going to chuck them after the forcing because I've got 4 more plants, but now I think I will replant them and leave for a couple of years to recuperate, then each year lift 2 plants to force whilst leaving the others to rest, so as to have a rhubarb rotation.

That way I get to move the ones that are now in the way in the veg patch because when I planted them I'd no idea they would grow so big!

[glenniedragon]

Good start there M3, My 'barbs a bit sorry for itself so far this year- might have something to do with the chicken house I rolled onto it earlier in the year- whoops

Avec creme Anglaise? what is french for rhubarb?

Kind thoughts
Deb

[hedgewizard]

Good for you, agent Triple-M. Mine spent the year before last in a 9-inch pot so I didn't want to vandalise it this year, but I'll be splitting the crowns at Xmas. A shame no-one else eats the stuff! It makes wonderful jam, with ginger and a few cloves...

[ohareward]

Hi 3M, from downunder, what did you use for covering the rhubarb to force it? I will be changing mine to a different plot this coming winter, so I would like to try and get it earlier. When did you put them on the rhubarb?
Robin.

[Millymollymandy]

Robin - as posted above I did this - I lifted a couple of plants (which were overcrowded anyway) and replanted in black dustbins. We lifted the crowns about January - you are supposed to leave them on top of the soil for a couple of weeks to get frosted, but we were somewhat lacking in cold frosty weather this winter! However it worked and I picked the stalks that had already reached the lid of the dustbin.

Glennie - no, just with cream (don't like custard) and the French for rhubarb is........ rhubarb (well it might have an 'e' on the end, not sure)!

[ohareward]

Hi 3M, from down under, thanks for that, and yes it does have an 'e' at the end.
Robin.