Gardeners with rhubarb in their plots have been issued a warning to prevent them from wasting their money and instead, get the best results possible. They are being advised not to harvest in the first season after planting.
Most rhubarb varieties can be harvested from late April or May and will continue to thrive throughout the summer. However, to allow the plants to establish a robust root system and properly settle in your garden, you should refrain from harvesting in the first season after planting.
The first year is vital for the rhubarb plant to develop underground. Gardeners should only lightly harvest in the second season to avoid weakening the crowns.
If you’re keen for an early harvest of tender and pink rhubarb, you can use the ‘forcing’ method by covering the crowns in December or January with a layer of straw or bracken and cover over with an upturned bucket or dustbin in mid-winter to exclude light. Those who do this should ensure they do not pull the crowns for the rest of the season.
The ‘forcing’ method helps produce sweeter, more tender stalks in around just four weeks. Rhubarb varieties like ‘Timperley Early’ are ideal for forcing, reports the Express.
For those eager for an even earlier harvest, some roots can be lifted in November. To do this, leave the lifted roots outside for up to two weeks prior to potting to expose them to more cold – this is needed to overcome dormancy – as Rhubarb requires seven to nine weeks of cold weather below 3C.
Next, fill up with compost and move to a cool room or greenhouse with a temperature ranging between 7-16C. Cover the rhubarb with buckets to block out light and maintain the roots moist but not soaked.
Typically, stalks can be harvested in five weeks. However, gardeners are cautioned that crowns forced in this manner are often significantly weakened and hence thrown away after harvest.