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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!

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

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...

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.

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)!

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