Allotments 4 All

morning,

question is: i have stopped picking from my rhubarb now so as to preserve strength for the crown. when will the rhubarb start dying back naturally, and is there anything i can do to keep the patch 'tidy' - i.e. i wont be able to pick off leaves that get in the way of other plants now, can i?

are you supposed to bend them over  - much like you do with daffodils after they have gone over?

thanks
svea

I'm still pickingh mine. I carry on every year until it gets woody and tough.  I make sure it gets loads of water. It hasn't suffered as yet from continuous picking. Though I'm sure I'll be scolded any minute.......!  ;D Lottie

Mines been attacked by aphids of sorts... I thought that the leaves were poisionous!  :(

Marthamad,

Its poisonous to us but not some insects.

Svea,

Don't bend the stems - its not recommended for daffodils and its not recommended for rhubarb either!

The stems and leaves die back in autumn, if the leaves are in the way of other plants try maneuvering them around taking care not to break the stems.

i thought/feared as much, david.
thanks

they will get in the way of my tomatoes, and my courgette i think
well, making note not to plant stuff too close next year :)

svea

Why not pull the stems that are an obstruction and make some rhubarb chutney....mmmmmmmm  :P

Isn't there a point - end of July? -  where you should stop picking it because the oxalic acid levels in the stems gets too high?

(Or has the sun got to me??)

I haven't as yet!! It's still coming thick and fast and is still yummy!!I find it loses its vaa vaa voom (?) naturally and then I stop picking.  I water mine daily, and give it a good feed and mulch when I've stopped pulling.  Each year it comes back fine.  Lottie  ;D 

I will pull a few more stems, but will stop by mid July, although it seems to be growing faster now than ever!  I too believe the oxalic acid becomes very concentrate, but don't know what it does to you, other than gives you belly ache!

Svea, try using canes to position the leaves out of the way, but if there are still loads of stems/leaves, then oiking a few out surely won't do any long term damage?

I am pulling mine out on one side cos they are overshadowing my pathetic spring onions, do it every year because it always overshadows summit! DP

I carry on pulling till I'm down to the smaller leaves, and only a few of those per clump. Then I leave it.

Took on 2nd allotment next door and there is a large Rhubarb crown on it.
Still picking it, made Rhubarb jam in April and after giving it to friends and getting the thumbs up I am going to do an other lot before July.

i have pulled a lot in the last few days but that was going to be the end of it :)

froze some rhubabr and waiting for strawbs to come into season (=be cheap at the market) then making rhubarb and strawberry jam! super yum!

yum!!

Was at lottie at 6.15 this morning and was pulling rhubarb

i have lots...

any recipe suggestions anyone??

Debs

http://www.rhubarbinfo.com/


Debs try here..some suggestions,

Brilliant site Val - thanks for that!

Debs :)

Advice please,I picked up some dishelveled crowns and planted them in March,and they are coming along nicely.
When can I start picking from them? June July next year?

Help will be appreciated.
Thanks

You should get some stalks next year in June, but unless they are really strong plants it would be best not to pick too many, the first year.

I have just finished washing and preparing 8lb of rhubarb pulled this very

morn ... and there is still loads more :o

Debs ;D

i have 2.5kg in the freezer now and gave about that much again away to neighbours and work collegues. and that is just from two crowns! (my third is pathetic and will get the chop in the autumn!)