Harvesting Rhubarb

Dave115 · August 2021

Following the advice from various sources, I stopped harvesting my rhubarb in early July.
Since then it has continued to grow vigorously and I now have a bed fuller than it has ever been. Am I really supposed to leave it there to die down over winter ? Seems such a waste.
My plot is in Fife,Scotland if that makes a difference.

bertrand-mabel · August 2021

Good question. Many will say don't crop after July as the oxalic acid will become more.

But it is only the leaves that do this and the stems have very little amounts and so we continue to harvest.

However others will tell you the opposite.

We are still using ours are they are brilliant.

Dovefromabove · August 2021

I’m of the ‘stop picking after the beginning of July’ contingent.

Our rhubarb is healthy and never puts up flower stems despite having not been split since we planted it around ten years ago.

And at this time of year there are so many fruits to enjoy whereas, even if perfectly edible, rhubarb pulled now is never as sweet as the earlier stalks.

It works for us. 😊

Allotment Boy · August 2021

Also, leaving it now allows the crowns to build up reserves. You can over harvest, my SIL' S parents had a clump die out on them because they over picked it.

robairdmacraignil · August 2021

Have always gone with harvesting up until September here but never pick all of the stalks in one go anyway. I thought stopping in September was to allow some energy go back to the crown and roots to help the plants get through the winter. Never heard about people stopping as early as July until recently.

Allotment Boy · August 2021

It partly depends on the variety, with some of the very early ones it's usual to stop in July.

Skandi · August 2021

It's also going to depends on where you are, mine is only just fully up by mid June, stopping in July would be madness. Most of my plants are dying off now and the 45mph winds I have right now are probably busy removing the remaining leaves anyway.

LG_ · August 2021

Did you see George on Beechgrove recently doing 'destructive cropping' (I may have misremembered the term).- removing all growth to reinvigorate the plant for continued cropping? It went against everything I've read on here and puzzled me somewhat.

https://m.facebook.com/watch/?v=589011079123784

Allotment Boy · August 2021

Oh yes, I completely agree, I am in the London suburbs, my Rhubarb started in February this year as winter was so mild. It then took a check in the cold dry April, but revived in May. I agree with Dove though, we have lots of other fruit at this time of year so don't need to pick Rhubarb.

Dovefromabove · August 2021

Yes indeed … I’ve explained so many times on the forum about letting the crown build up for the following year so it’s not stressed.

We grow Timperley Early and cover it at Christmas to bring it on a bit earlier still, so we’re usually picking by mid February.

Five months of being harvested is enough for any plant!!!

LG_ · August 2021

But what did you both think about George's method?

Also, is it more the length of time cropping (eg 5 months) rather than a set month (eg: July) that matters most? I didn't pick any until June, so a bit different from starting in February!

Harvesting Rhubarb

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