Have you ever heard of forcing rhubarb? It's a growing technique that not only gives you an early crop but also sweeter stalks!
We stumbled upon a viral TikTok video by @learntogrow1 that explains this gardening hack.
Many people are so curious about this hack that the video has garnered over 1 million views, 40k likes, 2k shares, and 500 comments. Watch below:
@learntogrow1 Good morning! I hope you a good weekend! Have you ever tried forcing rhubarb? You’ll not only get an earlier harvest, the stalks or petioles will be milder in flavor as stored sugars are concentrated in them instead of the leaves. The leaves will be pale, due to blocked sunlight, but look at how gorgeous the reddish-pink petioles are! (Leaves are toxic!) ✳️ It’s best to wait for your plants to establish before forcing them to grow. Newly planted rhubarb is usually harvested in the second season. If you’d like to force it, it’s a good idea to wait till the third year. ✅ Place a tall pot over the crowns as shown, (30-36 inches tall). Cover any holes to prevent light from entering. Covering the crowns will also create a microclimate inside, warming up the soil and waking the buds from dormancy. ☀️Plants cannot photosynthesize without sunlight, therefore the stalks stretch in search of light and the foliage remain a light color. (Phototropism: Direction of plant growth in response to a light source) ✅ Keep the crowns covered for 7-8 weeks. Harvest the stalks when they’re about 8-12 inches long. Compost the leaves as they’re not edible and contain a significant amount of oxalic acid which can make people ill. ✅ Allow your plant to regenerate for the remaining of the year and store energy for next year’s harvest. It’s a good idea to grow multiple plants so you can alternate forcing them every other year and harvest throughout the season. 🌱This variety is called Victoria. When planting rhubarb, space each plant 4-6 feet apart. #rhubarb #gardeningtips #organicgardening #vegetablegardening #foodforest #growfood ♬ original sound - learntogrow
In the video, the creator explains that when you force rhubarb, the stalks or petioles will be milder in flavor as stored sugars are concentrated in them instead of the leaves.
@learntogrow1 says, "The leaves will be pale, due to blocked sunlight, but look at how gorgeous the reddish-pink petioles are! (Leaves are toxic!)"
What Is Forcing Rhubarb?
Forcing rhubarb is a gardening technique where the rhubarb plant is grown in a dark, warm environment to encourage early growth and sweeter stalks.
The process involves covering the crown of the rhubarb plant to block out sunlight, which stimulates the plant to produce pale, tender, and sweeter stalks.
Some use a bell-shaped pot called "rhubarb forcer" for this process.
When the stalks are about 8-12 inches long, they can be harvested for use in cooking.
The leaves of the rhubarb plant are toxic and should not be consumed.
Forcing rhubarb is a great way to get an early crop of rhubarb and enjoy sweeter stalks all season long.
How To Force Rhubarb To Grow?
The short 11-second video shows how to force rhubarb.
First, wait for your plants to establish before forcing them to grow. Newly planted rhubarb is usually harvested in the second season.
If you'd like to force it, it's a good idea to wait till the third year.
Place a tall pot over the crowns, (30-36 inches tall), and cover any holes to prevent light from entering.
Covering the crowns will also create a microclimate inside, warming up the soil and waking the buds from dormancy.
Plants cannot photosynthesize without sunlight, therefore the stalks stretch in search of light and the foliage remains a light color.
Keep the crowns covered for 7-8 weeks. Harvest the stalks when they're about 8-12 inches long.
Compost the leaves as they're not edible and contain a significant amount of oxalic acid which can make people ill.
Allow your plant to regenerate for the remaining of the year and store energy for next year's harvest.
It's a good idea to grow multiple plants so you can alternate forcing them every other year and harvest throughout the season.
Give This Hack A Try!
The TikTok video has also sparked some interesting comments from viewers. Some have fond memories of rhubarb pies while others have concerns about snails piling up under the bucket.
But overall, people seem excited to try this gardening hack and enjoy the sweeter, reddish-pink petioles of forced rhubarb.
Have you tried this hack? We're curious to know how it went. Tell us in the comments!
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