First year for Rhubarb
we just planted rhubarb this year... and there are new stalks. should we pick those? I heard you weren't supposed to get any the first year... or maybe the tag said to pick any new blooms... huh? help????
I planted rhubarb last April and got beautiful stalks and HUGE leaves. (We photographed one leaf when it was more than 14 inches long.)
But the four
plants which I planted in a one-square-foot area (I misread Mel Bartholomew *and* John Jeavons...) were entirely too big for such a small area.
I harvested four stalks from the largest plant in March, just before transplanting all four of 'em into containers. I've made rhubarb & strawberry pie and other rhubarb dishes for a long time, but my own first-year stalks weren't very flavorful.
Now I'm letting all four plants develop bigger roots and hope to harvest perhaps in October and again next February/March.
Depending on where you are in Utah, letting the plants develop for next spring and not harvesting in the fall may be the way to go. I *did* cut off the leaves whenever they started to turn yellow, indicating that their photosynthetic activity was coming to an end; the leaves were put into my BioStack compost bin.
Just watching the knot of leaves in the center gradually uncurl and develop into HUGE leaves is beautiful.
Cynthia H.
Sunset Zone 17, USDA Zone 9
But the four
plants which I planted in a one-square-foot area (I misread Mel Bartholomew *and* John Jeavons...) were entirely too big for such a small area.I harvested four stalks from the largest plant in March, just before transplanting all four of 'em into containers. I've made rhubarb & strawberry pie and other rhubarb dishes for a long time, but my own first-year stalks weren't very flavorful.
Now I'm letting all four plants develop bigger roots and hope to harvest perhaps in October and again next February/March.
Depending on where you are in Utah, letting the plants develop for next spring and not harvesting in the fall may be the way to go. I *did* cut off the leaves whenever they started to turn yellow, indicating that their photosynthetic activity was coming to an end; the leaves were put into my BioStack compost bin.
Just watching the knot of leaves in the center gradually uncurl and develop into HUGE leaves is beautiful.
Cynthia H.
Sunset Zone 17, USDA Zone 9
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rainbowgardener
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I'd leave it alone this year to let the plant develop. I planted one rhubarb plant last year and let it grow. This spring I harvested some rhubarb and then divided the plant into three. All three are now thriving (they are beautiful) and I expect I should be able to harvest a little more by fall. Next spring I should have three good sized plants to take from!
I planted two roots this spring, and didn't harvest any stalks. I hope they do better next year, though cause the stalks only got 8" long before the leaf unfurled. Now one is bolted and I don't know if I should pick off the bloom. Oh well!
Our local botanical garden has a "pioneer" garden and they have truly uncared for mega-rhubarb behind their log house. The leaves were easily 2 feet across on stalks 3 feet long! Plant on top of plant! It was massively unruly! I wanted to get some of that fur sure, but I restrained myself!
Our local botanical garden has a "pioneer" garden and they have truly uncared for mega-rhubarb behind their log house. The leaves were easily 2 feet across on stalks 3 feet long! Plant on top of plant! It was massively unruly! I wanted to get some of that fur sure, but I restrained myself!