I've never tried the traditional method of forcing before, but have decided to try it this year, in an effort to increase the variety of produce from my plot over a longer harvesting season. The traditional forced crops include rhubarb, seakale and chicory and I have indeed just put a bucket over my rhubarb on the plot to stir the buds I can just see on the surface into life. However, I spotted in Grow Your Own magazine, that beetroot can also be forced, so I dug up some of my 'Bull's Blood' on Sunday and bought them home to give it try out on the patio. I cut off the tops and put 4 roots per pot yesterday. I then covered each pot with a large terracotta 'long tom' pot with a stone over the top to block out the light. If this is successful, I should be harvesting some nice salad leaves in a few weeks time. I'll let you know how I get on.
A good experiment, one I have never heard of, I look forward to seeing the result. I have got rhubarb in a large pot, I didn't set out to force it, but I have it covered to keep off any frost or snow which we may have, as this can spell disaster for any plant. x
ReplyDeleteDidn't know you could force rhubarb. I think we're going to try to grow some this summer...and perhaps force it next spring!
ReplyDeleteKatie at GardenPunks
Hi Katie,
ReplyDeleteI think it's well worth a try as the sticks are meant to be more tender and sweeter when forced. You need to let the plants grow for a season before forcing them, so that the plant has time to establish itself first.
Louise - it looks like you might be forcing it after all! Have you had a peek to see what's happening?
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