Rhubarb Rhubarb Rhubarb!

[Grumpla]

Have just moved into a house with a big garden. There is a massive veg patch and a bed which now has (I think ) rhubarb appearing.

They are very bright pink tips of something, in the veg patch so seems a safe bet that's what it is.

What should I do to help them along? I vaguely think I need to put a bucket over the top - is this right? Do I put it straight onto the soil or balance it on something to keep them ventilated?

[oldenoughtowearpurple]

You can do nothing and they will grow fine or you can do the bucket thing to encourage them to grow fast and pale. On a warmer day you can stuff the bucket with straw or shredded paper and put that over them to keep them a bit warm and they may grow even faster.
Mine is just coming through too. Yum yum.

[Grumpla]

Oh excellent, I think I will do nothing then. Got plenty of other jobs to do!

[Chatelaine]

Fork in plenty in compost before it gets going. Also the plastic compost bins are ideal for putting over the crowns to force it, so you get the delicate early rhubarb but you need to take the cover off in the summer as it takes too much out of the plants. We used unused compost bins for this last year and reverted to a compost heap.

[CupcakeQueenie]

Cq's dp here. If you have an open fire, Rhubarb loves the ashes.

[queenrollo]

if you force the rhubarb now though, it's not advisable to crop too much off it. It's also debatable whether you should crop off it again later in the season.

[timetosmile]

This year (new house etc..) I would just let it grow, get a bit of compost round it, that's it. get a feel for how big a 'normal' year's yield in before you force it.