This article was first posted 8th March 2022.

We now have our own home grown rhubarb in the farm shop. Grown just a couple of hundred metres from where it sits on the shelf. What could be fresher?

The patch of rhubarb, at the top of the slope, in the pick your own field was getting a little tired and old.  It also suffered when the weather was very dry, rhubarb is quite a thirsty crop.

For these reasons, last February we planted a fresh patch of rhubarb in the field behind the farm shop.  The crowns were planted into a raised bed with a water pipe for irrigation, covered by black Mypex.  Hopefully this will help suppress weeds and provide adequate irrigation for the crop.

Our rhubarb is Timperley Early a high-yielding first early cultivar. The thick stems are deep red at the base, passing to light green with red flecks; flesh is green.  This cultivar was bred for forcing but we have found that it also performs very well outside. The red colour is more pronounced when forced.

A good source of Vitamin K and rich in antioxidants, rhubarb makes excellent crumbles, tarts and jam.  Lately rhubarb gin and vodka have become very fashionable.  We sell a number of varieties in the farm shop including one by our most local distillery Rugby Gin

Rhubarb will be our first crop available for pick your own. This year customers will be able to pick their own rhubarb at the end of April / early May.