We were lucky enough to inherit several rhubarb crowns on our plot and they have been really productive. The first year we were really precious about it, even though fellow plot holders told us we’d soon be giving it away by the barrowload and sick of the sight if it!  I made various jams, including rhubarb and ginger and rhubarb and vanilla which was delicious. Chutney variants included rhubarb and date, which also tasted good.

The following two years also gave us good crops and, yes, we do now give much more of it away! There really is only so much crumble you can manage! The trouble is that there is so much of it ready at once!  So, taking inspiration from our Wakefield rhubarb growing neighbours (ok, they’re about 15 miles away, but close enough!), we decided to have a go at forcing one or two of the crowns in an attempt to stretch the season a bit and give us young, tender rhubarb early in the year.

The first crown appeared through the layer of manure round the end of February and we covered it with a big plastic bin. My OH had the good sense to poke a couple of canes making a cross through each of the handles, into the ground. This, together with a couple of bricks on top meant that when we had the really windy weather, the bin stayed put.  No mean feat in the gales that blew in!

We resisted the temptation to keep uncovering (in truth this was easier than we expected ‘cos the weather was so awful we didn’t go down to our plot for a couple of weeks!) until around three weeks later. Lifting the black bin off, we we’re amazes and thrilled by the jewel pink stems and curly yellow leaves that greeted us. Anyone would think we’d grown some prize winning new variety of something! Careful not to overpick, we took just a few stalks and, after cutting into pieces, roasted them gently in the oven with a little brown sugar. So tasty and a good 4-6 weeks before the main crop will be anything like ready.

Our aim was to extend our harvesting season and we’ve certainly done that. Next year we’ll do the same with another crown so as not to weaken the same one. Hopefully the one we’ve forced this year will recuperate next year and then be strong enough to give us another main crop.