Feb 4, 2021
Growing Plants in the Dark
This method is known as "forcing", commonly practiced with rhubarb to produce sweeter stems. It can be done via terracotta pot coverings, or in a shed with candlelight.
For forcing rhubarb, you just need to start with a 2 year old plant, expose it to the cold for a few weeks (either in the fridge or cold winter air), then put it in a warm, dark place.
But forcing can be done to other plants, too. Chicory/ raddichio is the other commonly forced plant, producing leaves that are much less bitter, and a pretty pink colour. The only difference between the process is needing to cut the greenery off the root before forcing it.
