Anyone got a Rhubarb clump still going?

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Posted by Martin Kyte on 14/01/2023 12:56:32:

The best rhubarb comes from a small area around Accrington where the soil has a high sulphur level. Clumps are/were grown outside in the fields and fertilised with shoddy or waste wool from the mills. Dessert rhubarb was then forced in sheds with the light of a single candle.

I hope I got that mostly correct.

regards Martin

Is that a plus from (sulphuric) acid rain? The best rhubarb comes of course from West Yorkshire, but then I'm biased.

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

Posted by duncan webster on 14/01/2023 17:27:24:

Posted by Martin Kyte on 14/01/2023 12:56:32:

The best rhubarb comes from a small area around Accrington where the soil has a high sulphur level. Clumps are/were grown outside in the fields and fertilised with shoddy or waste wool from the mills. Dessert rhubarb was then forced in sheds with the light of a single candle.

I hope I got that mostly correct.

regards Martin

Is that a plus from (sulphuric) acid rain? The best rhubarb comes of course from West Yorkshire, but then I'm biased.

You are correct of course Duncan. I was working from memory about the rhubarb triangle and got my geography off.

Just looked it up and it's centered around Wakefield not Accrington. Must be getting confused with bricks.

regards Martin

Edited By Martin Kyte on 14/01/2023 18:55:33

[SamsarandaParticipant @samsaranda]

Remember in the 50’s my Dad used to grow rhubarb in our garden and in those days there were horses that used to come down our street and Dad would be out there with a bucket and spade collecting the manure for the rhubarb. Dave W

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Posted by Martin Kyte on 14/01/2023 15:03:

The forcing is about raising the sugar content

regards Martin

Disagree. Forcing is to get an early crop, obviously to the detriment of the plant.

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

True but it also restricts the production of oxalic acid so the rhubarb tastes sweeter which is the primary reason for doing it commercially. I should probably have said the sugar balance really.
regards Martin

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

Posted by Samsaranda on 14/01/2023 21:33:47:

Remember in the 50’s my Dad used to grow rhubarb in our garden and in those days there were horses that used to come down our street and Dad would be out there with a bucket and spade collecting the manure for the rhubarb. Dave W

Ah the old joke “do you put manure on your rhubarb? “Na, we have custard on owern “

🥴

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

When I were a lad we had a greengrocer who came round with a lorry. He would give us urchins a stick of rhubarb, which we would eat raw, just dipping the end in sugar. Must be well over 60 years since. I'll try it next time I see some in the shop.

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