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@JimmyB @lionelb I found some rhubarb coming up. Wondered about forcing it, then promptly forgot again! Is it too late to start now?

@lionelb @helenclayton have you gut a forcing pot? Got one on spesh last year at Trebah gardens. It’s all terracotta and Monty Don… and surprisingly didn’t break on the way home…

@JimmyB @lionelb I don’t know…quite possible there’s one knocking about in the garden (I’m finding all sorts of things now that the foliage has died back). How tall are they?

@lionelb @helenclayton mines about thigh height I think? I’ve no idea how they are supposed to be used tbh. I just put it over my rhubarb crown in about November hoping that might do it!

@JimmyB @lionelb hmm don’t recall seeing anything like that but will double check.

@lionelb @helenclayton well otherwise an old box or something might do it? I have no idea how special this forced rhubarb is sposed to be. I mean the emperor might be naked here

@JimmyB @helenclayton

A black plastic bin liner and some sticks would keep the light out.

@helenclayton @lionelb just got the weekly email from the local auction house and was looking to see if they’ve got one as an eg - they sometimes do - but not this week.

@JimmyB @lionelb I have just rigged up something that is so Heath Robinson my dad would have been proud . I found an old iron frame - maybe a plant stand - put that over the rhubarb crowns then covered it in a double layer of bin bags. The bin bags didn’t reach to the ground though so I’ve wrapped some thick agricultural fabric (spare from log store cover) around the sides and put a bit of slate on the top for good measure . Monty Don it isn’t. A couple of crowns wouldn’t fit inside either.

@helenclayton

Way to go!

@lionelb

@lionelb @JimmyB but how long before I can take a peek?! I haven’t put any mulch down either. Should I have?

The crowns outside the ‘tent’ can be my control I guess.

@helenclayton @JimmyB

That seems sensible. Needs a bit more warmth yet.

@JimmyB @helenclayton

My grandfather used to sprinkle chimney soot around them. I am absolutely not advocating that. Horribly toxic. But interesting.

@lionelb

I've seen a fair few threads on use of soot in the garden. Eventually Ithink someone knowledgeable wades in and says: yeah - they used to do that. Don't do it tho...

@helenclayton

@helenclayton @JimmyB

Soot is highly acidic. Wood ash is safe but highly alkaline.

@lionelb @JimmyB I see a lot of mixed views on using it in the garden. Currently I don’t and keeping a separate pile by the compost bins.

@JimmyB @lionelb we have soft fruit bushes of some sort. I don’t know what yet.

@helenclayton

That's a great journey of discovery tho! I inherited what I thought was a blackcurrant. Turned out to be non fruiting (and therefore... compost material)...

@lionelb

@JimmyB @lionelb there are lots of what look like fruit bushes about. I could ask my neighbours to help identify them - veg farm on one side and smallholders on the other, both with fruit bushes - or wait to see what appears!

@helenclayton

I love the wait and see option! I mean - the possibilities are not unmlimited, but still. Could be fantastic.

@lionelb