Rhubarb when can you pick it

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Gardening guides. If you let your plant go to flower, the edible stems will taste the same and your plant will still live for many more years. And wines. And crumbles, cakes, jams, and ice creams. And if you need further inspiration, our sister site, Foodal , has plenty of ideas for what to do with your fresh harvest.

Mine, of course, is pie. Let us know in the comments if you have any extra harvesting tips we should know about, and what you plan to do with your freshly harvested pie stalks! See our TOS for more details. Originally published on March 2, Uncredited photos: Shutterstock. With additional writing and editing by Clare Groom and Allison Sidhu.

As a freelance writer, she contributes to several websites and blogs across the web. The bottom part of the stalk that you say to cut off is the tenderest, sweetest part of the whole stalk. Hi Val. Thank you for the tip! My rhubarb is still growing and looks healthy in Sept in Seattle Wa. Is it going to taste okay if I bake with it or freeze for later? Hi Teresa! Yes, definitely. Cut it into baking-sized pieces and freeze it for those December pie cravings.

They freeze theirs and use the frozen pieces to make a delicious pie filling. Growing rhubarb, Rheum rhabarbarum , is not for those who lack patience.

More Posts My question is, if I am not harvesting the rhubarb what do I need to do instead. Do I just leave all the growth until it dies back assuming that's what happens and then cut it all back when it dies? You want to put a lot of thought into the location of where you plant this! Once it gets established, the roots go halfway to Australia. Ask me how I know this Is there anything I can do to improve the colour of my rhubarb stalks?

I believe I planted Canada Red, but the stalks have very little red on them. In order to maintain the redness of your rhubarb, make sure you clean up the dying foliage from it each fall. Cut the stems off as they begin to die back or thoroughly rake the area after all the plant material has died back. Be sure to divide regularly. What can I do to help with this problem? Slugs prefer moist, shaded habitats and will shelter in weeds or organic trash.

Be extra careful to remove any garden or plant debris near the rhubarb to promote good air circulation and reduce moist habitat for slugs. Destroy any slugs found feeding on lure.

Another popular way to get rid of slugs is to sink shallow dishes filled with beer into the soil to attract and drown the molluscs; organic controls include ferrous phosphate. Just make sure that you place each section upright in the planting hole with the buds 1 to 2 inches below the soil surface.

Rhubarb can be harvested for 4 to 6 weeks in the third year and until mid-June in succeeding years. So I know the leaves are toxic - but I've been told it's great to cut them off the stem and throw them in the vegetable garden as ground cover to prevent weeds.

Is this safe to do? If it's near other edible plants, won't that possibly transfer toxicity to those plants? Thanks for your reply! While rhubarb leaves do contain poisonous oxalic acid and should not be eaten directly, they can be placed in the compost pile.

And decomposing rhubarb leaves can be safely applied to the vegetable garden. Oxalic acid, like other organic acids, are not readily absorbed by plant roots. After transplanting, monitor the plants closely and do not allow them to dry out.

Consider using a layer of a light-colored mulch such as straw to hold in moisture, too. Skip to main content. You are here Gardening » Growing Guides. Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Rhubarb. By The Editors. In spring, plant crowns as the soil is workable and when the roots are still dormant and before growth begins or as plants are just beginning to leaf out.

If you have a temperature gauge, soil temperature should be 50 degrees F minimum. Choosing and Preparing the Planting Site Rhubarb grows best in full sun, but will tolerate partial shade. Choose a site with soil that is well-draining and fertile. Good drainage is essential, as rhubarb will rot if kept too wet. Mix compost, rotted manure, or anything high in organic matter into the soil. Rhubarb plants are heavy feeders and need this organic matter.

Learn more about soil amendments and preparing soil for planting. Soil pH is not critical, though rhubarb will grow best in a slightly acidic to neutral range 6. Rhubarb gets big! It can grow to 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. Before planting, eliminate all perennial weeds in the planting site. How to Plant Rhubarb Dig large, bushel-basket—size holes. Space rhubarb plants about 2 to 4 feet apart and 3 to 4 feet between rows.

Plant crowns so the eyes are about 2 inches below the soil surface with buds facing up. Water well at the time of planting. Check out this video to learn more about how to plant rhubarb:. How to Grow Rhubarb Mulch generously with a heavy layer of straw to retain moisture and discourage weeds.

Water your plant well and consistently. Rhubarb needs sufficient moisture, especially during the hot, dry days of summer.

Remove seed stalks as soon as they appear, as they will only drain energy from the plant that could otherwise be used for producing stalks or roots. Each spring, apply a light sprinkling of a fertilizer when the ground is thawing or has just thawed.