covering rhubarb

[tomatoada]

I have 2 old swing bin bases which I have put over some rhubarb.  Do I need to cut holes in the  bottom of them (which is now  the top)?   Is it necessary to have light for the stems to grow towards?

[tomatoada]

[Chrispy]

When do people normally cover the rhubarb? I have got a green cone that blew on my plot and nobody has claimed so I am going to use that.

In answer to tomatoada question, you want complete dark, commercial forces do not have anything brighter than a candle in their forcing sheds.

[tomatoada]

Thanks for reply.   Hope to have some early rhubarb crumble.

[dtw]

What colour are the bins?
Any colour except black will let some light in.

[cambourne7]

I did this last year and the roots rotted into the ground :(

[queenbee]

I have some green shoots on my 15 year old rhubarb plants. I have never covered them as I read somewhere that the plants die and have to be replaced each year if you do this. Is this true? As I love my rhubarb and would hate to be without for the rest of the year.

[darkbrowneggs]

I force mine every year, some with the old traditional forcers, and some of the bigger crowns with those big black plastic composter things. 

I only harvest the rhubarb for around half the year, and I get lbs and lbs.  (don't like rhubarb that much so give it pretty well all away)  Then I take off the forcers and let it grow unmolested for the rest of the year.   

I should feed it but mostly forget so it gets a few handfuls of seaweed meal some years and then grass clippings round it to hold the weeds down.  You can have say 4 crown and force 2 every other year, but my problem is keeping the stuff in check. 

You do have to watch for slugs if you use a forcer but they are not too much of a problem. And some years mice can be troublesome, but not often.

[cambourne7]

suspect the slugs had mine they were find wednesday and gone sunday :(

[antipodes]

I admit that I don't force my rhubarb as they are never really briliiant and i am afraid of damaging them. Some people say rhubarb is rampant, I don't find it to be so, but maybe I just stumbled onto rubbish plants? I think the rhubarb here is not as good as the varieties that you get in England.

[Chrispy]

It's probably too warm for it with you, it likes the English climate.

[tomatoada]

What colour are the bins?
Any colour except black will let some light in.

One is dark brown and the other cream.   
Thanks for the other replies.   I only cover some of my patch of rhubarb.  I do think covering weakens the plant but I have enough to grow the rest without forcing.
I use to use an old bottomless  bucket.  That is why I asked if there needed to be some light at the top.  Thanks crispy.