Price Points: Rhubarb forcers

Rhubarb forcers

One of the best things about our little cottage is the garden. There’s a micro-orchard and a mini-veg patch and we’ve been excited about producing our own food. When we moved in 18 months ago, there was already a rhubarb plant in one corner of the veg patch. We both love rhubarb and cook with it when it’s in season. The plan is to get another 2 or 3 crowns and a couple of rhubarb forcers.

Forcing rhubarb is keeping it in the dark so that it reaches up in search of sunlight. This causes the stalks to be thin, pale and ready to harvest weeks earlier than usual. Only 2-year-old crows should be forced, and once done, you should skip a year before forcing again. So, if we have 4 rhubarb crowns, we need two forcers which can be used on rotation.

I’ve been on the look-out for antique ones that are beautiful and weathered, but they’re tough to find. Because they’re large and generally made of terracotta, they’re heavy and not many sellers are prepared to ship them. Most of the ones I’ve seen listed on eBay are ‘buyer to collect’, and are located hundreds of miles away.

Because of this, I’ve been checking out new ones. I’d prefer a tall, wide forcer that can cover a large crown and encourages long, tender stalks. For this reason, and despite not liking the name, the Gutter Mate example would be the best option, I think. In addition, a frost-proof – or at least, frost-resistant – one would be best. Terracotta pots are prone to shattering in the sub-zero temperatures we get every winter.

  1. Frost-resistant terracotta rhubarb forcer 50cm (h) x 38cm (d): £59.99, Primrose
  2. Gutter Mate rhubarb forcer 83cm (h) x 56cm (d): £61.99, Original Organics
  3. Rhubarb forcer 69cm (h) x 48cm (d): £135.00, William Blyth

shop rhubarb forcers

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Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Rhubarb forcer
Rhubarb forcer
£135.00
Gutter Mate rhubarb forcer
Gutter Mate rhubarb forcer
£61.99
Frost-resistant terracotta rhubarb forcer
Frost-resistant terracotta rhubarb forcer
£59.99
Rhubarb forcer
Rhubarb forcer
£135.00
Gutter Mate rhubarb forcer
Gutter Mate rhubarb forcer
£61.99
Frost-resistant terracotta rhubarb forcer
Frost-resistant terracotta rhubarb forcer
£59.99
Rhubarb forcer
Rhubarb forcer
£135.00
Gutter Mate rhubarb forcer
Gutter Mate rhubarb forcer
£61.99
Frost-resistant terracotta rhubarb forcer
Frost-resistant terracotta rhubarb forcer
£59.99
Rhubarb forcer
Rhubarb forcer
£135.00
Gutter Mate rhubarb forcer
Gutter Mate rhubarb forcer
£61.99
Frost-resistant terracotta rhubarb forcer
Frost-resistant terracotta rhubarb forcer
£59.99
Rhubarb forcer
Rhubarb forcer
£135.00
Gutter Mate rhubarb forcer
Gutter Mate rhubarb forcer
£61.99
Frost-resistant terracotta rhubarb forcer
Frost-resistant terracotta rhubarb forcer
£59.99

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