The Edible Gardener - New BBC2 Series with Alys Fowler, starts 7th April

Rummer

We have left ours for a couple of years to establish itself.

eco

When i bought my rhubarb from my local market, the guy selling it said don't pick it in the first year, I didn't pick much in the second year and it seems to be taking off now.

CandyB101_2

I have just managed tonight to catch up and watch all 3 episodes.
Looking forward to trying the pea shoots ..... but she hasn't half scared me now with all that tomato blight talk.
I have always grown my tomato's in a greenhouse (in my old house) and was looking forward to growing loads of tomato plants in the 'morrisons flower buckets' ........ I'd be devastated to lose them.
Think I'll be growing a few cherry ones on the window sill now ...... then again can blight ruin them indoors??

Tommorow it's 'Beechgrove' catch up

CandyB101_2

I've planted a rhubarb this year and it is going to kill me not being able to pick it ......... I just looooooooove rhubarb.

I have a question though on rhubarb, how much water do they like?
I planted it where there was plenty of space next to the conservatory and have only just realised that the water from the down pipe goes straight into that bed.

elantan

so what happens to the stalks if you dont pick them ? and how do you use a rhubarb trainer pot thing? do you leave it over the rhubarb all the time or just night or what ?

Kay_Peel

elantan wrote: »

? and how do you use a rhubarb trainer pot thing? do you leave it over the rhubarb all the time or just night or what ?

As soon as the crown starts growing, you can place a bottomless pot over it. The stems shoot up as they desperately try to grow towards the light. The stems are straighter, thinner, pinkier, sweeter and juicier then the ones exposed to the elements. They crop more quickly too.

So if you're desperate for some really flavoursome rhubarb, force it into growth with a very tall pot.

elantan

any particular kinda pot? or would a plastic pop bottle do?

Kay_Peel

elantan wrote: »

any particular kinda pot? or would a plastic pop bottle do?

I love the look of the purpose-built variety - a bottomless clay Rhubarb Forcer. It has a lid that excludes all light and you only remove it once the shoots have nearly reached the top.

http://girlinterruptedeating.wordpress.com/2009/02/22/forced-rhubarb-and-ginger-cake/

You just improvise - Wooden boxes, cardboardboxes and straw, dustbins, chimney pots, plastic pots, terracotta pots and all the other genius alternatives that MSE gardeners discover through the ages.

alfieroux

any particular kinda pot? or would a plastic pop bottle do?

As long as it not clear - you don't want the light getting in :doh:

Alfie

forgotmyname

I have always picked rhubard when then are at least 4 reasonably sized stalks left over. Might be why mine dont grow as big as the ones on the show.

Size isnt everything though, IS IT???

You want something like an old dustbin put that over the plant & wait a week or two then see how its grown. Not tried that myself yet. Lack of space.

I really need to start planting less, But so little space i have to pack it all in.