Very cold out but there is new life.
[#]rhubarb #gardening
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@lionelb Very nice! Mine is not looking like that yet! I'm trying to force it for the first time this year. Will see how that goes
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@JimmyB @lionelb I found some rhubarb coming up. Wondered about forcing it, then promptly forgot again! Is it too late to start now?
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@helenclayton @lionelb don’t know! You could try and let us know? Call it research then it doesn’t matter if it doesn’t work!
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@lionelb @helenclayton have you gut a forcing pot? Got one on spesh last year at Trebah gardens. It’s all terracotta and Monty Don… and surprisingly didn’t break on the way home…
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@JimmyB @lionelb I don’t know…quite possible there’s one knocking about in the garden (I’m finding all sorts of things now that the foliage has died back). How tall are they?
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@lionelb @helenclayton mines about thigh height I think? I’ve no idea how they are supposed to be used tbh. I just put it over my rhubarb crown in about November hoping that might do it!
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@JimmyB @lionelb hmm don’t recall seeing anything like that but will double check.
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@lionelb @helenclayton well otherwise an old box or something might do it? I have no idea how special this forced rhubarb is sposed to be. I mean the emperor might be naked here 😀😀😀
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@JimmyB @lionelb I’ve certainly bought forced rhubarb before and it was incredible in a cake.
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@lionelb @helenclayton ok - not so naked! Well here’s hoping mine decides to come thru. Rhubarb cake sounds ace. Might try…
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@JimmyB @lionelb it was really pink, almost translucent, and tender. I think it was a Nigella recipe - rhubarb polenta cake - great warm as a pudding with cream or custard, or cold as cake!
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@helenclayton @lionelb I mean! Stoppit now! I’m in a dodgy little flat for work in Zurich, couldn’t be arsed to go shopping today and therefore had leftovers-omelette for tea. Rhubarb polenta cake sounds excellent right now 😀😀
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@JimmyB @lionelb it’s in the How to be a Domestic Goddess book but I’ve just found it online here…definitely looks better with the forced rhubarb.
http://trufflebird.blogspot.com/2008/03/nigellas-rhubarb-cornmeal-cake.html?m=1
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@helenclayton @lionelb I’ve book marked that: will be a few weeks yet but does sound great! Thanks…
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@JimmyB @helenclayton
Forced is gloriously sweet. Though my grandmother used it green without sugar to make pies and that was heavenly. Sucked in your cheeks.
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@JimmyB @helenclayton
A black plastic bin liner and some sticks would keep the light out.
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@lionelb @JimmyB I’ve just looked at the special pots…super fancy! I’m pretty sure I can find something knocking around in the garden this time. I’ll try and do that tomorrow lunchtime if I can.
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@helenclayton @lionelb just got the weekly email from the local auction house and was looking to see if they’ve got one as an eg - they sometimes do - but not this week.
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@JimmyB @lionelb I have just rigged up something that is so Heath Robinson my dad would have been proud 😂. I found an old iron frame - maybe a plant stand - put that over the rhubarb crowns then covered it in a double layer of bin bags. The bin bags didn’t reach to the ground though so I’ve wrapped some thick agricultural fabric (spare from log store cover) around the sides and put a bit of slate on the top for good measure 😂. Monty Don it isn’t. A couple of crowns wouldn’t fit inside either.
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@helenclayton
Way to go!
@lionelb
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@helenclayton @JimmyB
It will work a treat. The rhubarb will taste just the same.
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@lionelb @JimmyB but how long before I can take a peek?! I haven’t put any mulch down either. Should I have?
The crowns outside the ‘tent’ can be my control I guess.
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@helenclayton @JimmyB
That seems sensible. Needs a bit more warmth yet.
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@helenclayton
They are hungry I think. If you've got anything to feed them with, I believe they respond well... And love the idea of a control!!!
@lionelb
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@JimmyB @helenclayton
My grandfather used to sprinkle chimney soot around them. I am absolutely not advocating that. Horribly toxic. But interesting.
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@lionelb @JimmyB I’ve got plenty of wood ash.
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@helenclayton @JimmyB
Soot is highly acidic. Wood ash is safe but highly alkaline.
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@lionelb @JimmyB I see a lot of mixed views on using it in the garden. Currently I don’t and keeping a separate pile by the compost bins.
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@helenclayton
Soft fruit can use it, I think. I have added it to my gooseberries but that wouldn't be an advert...they're rubbish and the bull finches get the flowerbuds most years...
@lionelb
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@JimmyB @lionelb we have soft fruit bushes of some sort. I don’t know what yet.
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@helenclayton @JimmyB @lionelb
This whole thread is fascinating to me because my rhubarb won't make an appearance for months (April) and I have no idea what the forcing is about? Longer stems?
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@IcooIey @helenclayton @JimmyB
Red, thin stems that are sweet.
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@IcooIey @JimmyB @lionelb I definitely have rhubarb stems appearing so hopefully I haven’t left it too late.
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@IcooIey @helenclayton @JimmyB @lionelb Forced rhubarb is earlier, a delicate pink and far less acidic than later rhubarb. I used to use it to make a lovely tart a bit like a Bakewell but with rhubarb. My sister used forced rhubarb to make rhubarb gin. Don’t mistake me for any kind of expert though. My mum had a lovely old terracotta rhubarb forcing pot.
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@helenclayton
That's a great journey of discovery tho! I inherited what I thought was a blackcurrant. Turned out to be non fruiting (and therefore... compost material)...
@lionelb
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@JimmyB @lionelb there are lots of what look like fruit bushes about. I could ask my neighbours to help identify them - veg farm on one side and smallholders on the other, both with fruit bushes - or wait to see what appears!
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@JimmyB @helenclayton
Lid on to start, then remove as it fills.
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@helenclayton @JimmyB @lionelb joined this conversation really late but any deep bucket or trug will do.
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@Janet_52square @JimmyB @lionelb I rigged something up so we’ll see!
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@JimmyB @helenclayton
Or an old tin bucket with a hole in it.
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@lionelb @JimmyB does it have to be tin? There are buckets and big plastic plant pots lying around the place.
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@helenclayton @JimmyB
If dark yes. But needs to be big. Around 70cm high.
In sheds, rhubarb grows so fast it creaks.
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@lionelb @JimmyB I just bought a galvanised bin for the bird food…maybe I need another!
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@helenclayton @JimmyB
Now would be ideal. It is still pretty dark out there.
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@lionelb @JimmyB ok, I’ll find me a suitable pot if I can!
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