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I have never had rhubarb before and inherited some this year with my allotment. Might sound like a daft question, but is it best just to leave it until I get really big bits of rhubarb, or should I thin it out a bit to give room to grow?

I think you lift it in the Autumn Andy. Mine was from my next door neighbour last year and I broke the plant up into 5 bits and each bit seems to be growing. I think you are meant to break up the clump every few years,throw away the tired inner bits and plant the outer good looking bits. Then by the time its fruiting,it has recovered from its ordeal.

I've just got some from Ina (YAY - thanks again Ina) and they are planted in the piece as Ina gave them... we'll let them grow and won't try to harvest any this year to give them chance to recover - next year they will be fine and dandy (fingers crossed) and then we'll harvest. Splitting we'll leave til a few years hence.

When I last lived up here I had the biggest rhubarb plot I've ever seen... I'm not sure how long it had been there, but it was absolutely delicious. I had intended to make rhubarb wine from it but we moved before I had chance. Ahh well... maybe next year.

Give this a whirl Andy.

http://www.rhubarbinfo.com/

I am pleased I saw this thread. Thanks for the link Boots.

I asked my neighbour for a clump of roots and he came around with five roots today. I just need to find a space for them. Goodness, there's that word 'space' again!

shiney wrote:Goodness, there's that word 'space' again!

Ah yes...space for the rhubarb patch, the asparagus patch, the strawberry patch and the truffle trees from the Seeds of Italy site! Then there's the chicken run and the duck pond...maybe a couple of goats. Remind me why I live in London again? Sigh...

Alcina

Shiney - they take up a huge amount of space. I hadn't realised and planted mine too close to each other and the fence so some of them need moving next year.

You need to allow a square metre for each plant!

Thanks MMM, I have planted them next to the fence, I reckon they'll be enough space for them to expand. If not, it's gonna be a re-dig and re-adjust next year!

Most usefull link cheers boots.

My next question is how many times a week can you eat rhubarb untill you are sick of it Actually it is nice to have something to eat off the allotment.

I tried a rhubarb stew the other day throwing loads of veg into a pot with some spices, interesting but I am not sure if I will try it again.

Flog it Andy!!! If you've any left come June when I'm in Bristol I could buy some from you. My plants are too young to crop this year and will be next year before I'm eating any home grown rhubarb rhubarb rhubarb.

I'd second the 'floggin' bit Shirlz! We bought a HUGE bunch from our local school May Fair on Monday. It was £2 for about 3lbs of the stuff. You get about 3 sticks for that in the supermarket.


Can you sell some at work maybe?

Wish I was at your school fair - I LURVE rhubarb and at last farmers market we paid a fortune for some.....

Actually - I'm in Manchester at the moment - must check out the farmers market situation here for tomorrow!!

My next question is how many times a week can you eat rhubarb untill you are sick of it Actually it is nice to have something to eat off the allotment.

Why not make some rhubarb wine?

I'm new to cooking with rhubarb and I stewed some up with a bit of sugar but it coated my teeth with something and felt horrible. Was it not enough sugar in it? That's the only thing I don't like about 'sour' fruit - I don't like having to add sugar to it - it seems to defeat the object of healthy fruit! I might as well eat cake or chocolate!!!

MMM,

Have you tried dark soft brown sugar or similar or a bit of honey? I put juice of an orange and some ground ginger in as well. I must admit I don't like putting tonnes of sugar into fruit, but rhubard is a tadge on the sour side otherwise. I like it to taste tart but without pulling a sour face after the first spoonful!