Rhubarb is one of those crops that almost look after themselves, and if you have an established clump, forcing tender young stems is very easy. There are many methods of forcing rhubarb, and they all seem to work well. Just choose a technique that you find convenient.

Choose a method of excluding light. Special pots at one time were used for this, but now most people improvise. An old tea chest, bucket, or barrel is a simple but effective alternative. If you don’t have these, make a frame from wire-netting and canes.

Pile straw into the wire-netting cage, pressing it well down, to provide warmth and protection. Another simple way to make a rhubarb forcer is with a plastic dustbin. If you don’t mind cutting the bottom out of it, use it right way up with a lid on; otherwise use it inverted without a lid.

For really early crops many gardeners lift a well-established root and leave it on the surface for a few weeks. This gives the root a cold spell that makes it think winter is more advanced than it is.

Replant your chilled crown for outdoor forcing, or bring it into the greenhouse. If you have a warm greenhouse, place it under the bench, screened with black plastic. Alternatively, pot it up and put a plastic bag to take indoors. Make sure there is plenty of air in the bag by keeping it loose and making a few small air holes; then place the bag in a warm yet convenient place--under the stairs or in a kitchen cupboard. Check progress periodically.