Timperley 'Early' Rhubarb.

We always knew Timperley early rhubarb was out there (we’d seen it mentioned on a yoghurt in Sainsbury’s). Was it still grown locally though? Well it certainly is in garden’s and on allotments but we’ve not traced any local commercial producers.

A Potted History:
Rhubarb is often mistaken for a fruit; but it is a vegetable that is closely related to garden sorrel. It originated in Asia more than 2,000 years ago and was initially cultivated for medicinal purposes. It was not until the 18th century that it was grown for culinary purposes in the U.K, it is rich in vitamin C and dietary fibre. It’s called Timperley Early because it proved ideal for “forcing”. The idea of 'forcing' rhubarb - growing it indoors under dark and warm conditions - was probably 'discovered' in the 1820's but it was not taken up by market gardeners on a large scale until the 1880's. The roots were lifted from outside in November after the first cold spell of the winter and before the ground froze. Heat was provided from stoves in order to encourage the crop to grow.

Local roots:
There seems to be some dispute about just who was the first to discover this rhubarb hybrid, local resident Barbara Shaw remembers it being her grandfather Herbert Marsland who moved from Baguley to Timperley and discovered it in his new fields. We’ve also heard that Armstrongs, market gardeners in Baugley discovered and develop it (we’re not partial to that story we think you can guess why). Our source for this suggestion also told us about the large forcing sheds and how at night you could hear the rhubarb leaves squeaking as it grew! During the war when food was scarce rhubarb was a valued source of vitamin C and as the Timperly Early variety was out in the shop ahead of other varieties it could command a higher price; for this reason it became known as Baguley Beef. A decendent of the Armstrongs who now lives in Little Bollington still has some rhubarb in her garden which is a descendant of her father's earlier experiments and has been known to allow a chosen few a root or two of this plant to start their own crop.

Other suggestions including a company called “Dixon, Brown & Tate” who were located off Park Road in Timperley and had experimental nurseries in Broadheath.

Back in 2001 Local historian Hazel Prior interviewed some local nurserymen people who remember a wide variety of locals laying claim to introducing it with names such as; Warburton Wells, Yates, Robinsons & Baldwins and Marsland cropping up. These gentlemen also suggested the name could have been more to do with where it was first commercially grown rather than discovered.

Whatever the truth we are pleased that at least this one variety has stood the test of time.

When to Plant:
Late autumn to early winter we believe December is ideal!

How to Grow:
Growing Rhubarb - (External BBC Site)

Where to Buy:
J Parker a locally based garden centre with mail order facilities lists Timperley Early
Website: www.jparkers.co.uk
Tel: 0161 848 1100

We also found Timperley Early on:
Website: www.keepers.co.uk
Tel: 01622 726465