Why This Rhubarb Grows in Darkness

Transcription

In Yorkshire, some rhubarb grows in dark sheds, then is traditionally harvested by candlelight.

Darkness isn't its fuel. The secret is underground.

For two to three years outdoors, its leaves use sunlight to build food reserves in the roots.

After winter chilling, the crowns move into warm sheds with the light shut out.

New pink stalks grow using those stored reserves, while the leaves stay small and pale.

That produces the early, tender stalks known as Yorkshire forced rhubarb.

The candle helps the grower see. The roots supply the fuel.

Attribution

Photographs via Wikimedia Commons: Alan Murray-Rust (CC BY-SA 2.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0); Alan Murray-Rust (CC BY-SA 2.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0); Euchiasmus (CC BY-SA 2.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0); Bazonka (CC BY-SA 3.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0); Kolforn (Wikimedia) (CC BY-SA 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0); cropped and animated with editorial text. Original explanatory animation and sound cues by AskPandi; cached narration generated with ElevenLabs. Adapted photo sequences: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). ^{[1] [2] [3]}