A simple gardening method can make your homegrown rhubarb stalks naturally taste sweeter and less tart – and they will also be ready to harvest within eight weeks of starting the method
Alice Sjoberg Social News Reporter
14:37, 15 Apr 2026
Rhubarb will taste sweeter if you add one thing while they’re growing (stock image)(Image: Getty Images)
Recognised as the vegetable that’s technically a fruit, rhubarb is cherished for its distinctively tart yet sweet taste. From a botanical perspective, rhubarb is classified as a vegetable, as it lacks seeds and doesn’t develop from the flowering section of the plant. But once it moves from the garden to the kitchen, it’s typically treated like a fruit, frequently transformed into crumbles, jams, or preserves.
It’s readily available in supermarkets throughout its season, running from April to September, and it’s remarkably straightforward to grow yourself in your garden, as it tends to flourish with minimal intervention. The crunchy stalks are packed with carbohydrates and fibre, while also containing potassium and vitamin C – ideal for incorporating into breakfasts, snacks or puddings.
That said, some people might contend that the stalks aren’t quite as sweet as they’d prefer, and consequently often introduce some form of sweetener when eating them. But it appears you can enhance rhubarb’s natural sweetness by employing one easy technique when growing it in your garden.
On TikTok, gardening enthusiast Louise, who regularly posts advice and glimpses from her own plot where she cultivates her own produce, has disclosed how you can make your rhubarb taste considerably sweeter.
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In her clip, Louise explained that she initially planted her rhubarb two years previously, but needed to wait for the plant to mature sufficiently before she could finally pick it.
Rather than revealing the rhubarb plant itself, she was standing beside a large, upturned black container placed over the plant, with a concrete block on top to hold it firmly in position. As Louise carefully lifted the dark container, she enthusiastically uncovered the vibrant red stalks of rhubarb concealed beneath.
This technique of growing rhubarb beneath a darkened bucket is known as forced rhubarb. It’s a premium, early-season variety of the fruit grown in complete darkness throughout winter, producing tender, pale pink stalks with a sweeter, less sharp flavour compared to rhubarb grown outdoors.
It’s a brilliant method for harvesting an early crop ahead of conventionally grown rhubarb, while also yielding wonderfully tasty stalks to savour.
How to force rhubarb for sweeter flavour
Forcing rhubarb involves blocking out all light in January to trick the stems into believing they remain underground. Consequently, they develop more rapidly, become more tender and lack their usual green colouring. It’s precisely this absence of green that produces sweeter-tasting stems, while also creating an attractive appearance.
To force rhubarb successfully, the entire crown must be covered. A tall bucket, bin or large deep pot works perfectly, as it blocks out the light while providing sufficient space for stems to reach at least 30cm (12in) in height.
You can also secure a plastic pot by pegging down its sides or placing a heavy object on top to prevent it toppling over during strong winds. When the stems have grown to 30cm (12in) tall, typically after roughly eight weeks, you can collect the stems by tugging them completely away from the base.
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