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Top Questions About Rhubarb Plants

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Questions About Rhubarb Plants

  • Answered by
    Nikki on
    September 21, 2011
    Certified Expert
    A.

    It is not a good idea to harvest this late. It may cause the plant to go into a late season growth spurt, which opens it up to damage. It will use up the energy it needs for the winter and may not be able to last through the winter due to this.

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  • Answered by
    Nikki on
    September 25, 2011
    Certified Expert
    A.

    After harvesting, you can trim the plants back or leave them alone until after winter. Here is an article that you may find helpful: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/rhubarb/grow-rhubarb.htm

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  • Answered by
    Heather on
    November 5, 2011
    Certified Expert
    A.

    It won't affect the safety, but may affect the flavor. In the future, you should not be harvesting Rhubarb this late in the year. The reason is that it affects how well the plant can deal with the coming cold. Cutting the leaves signals the plant to grow more leaves, which distracts it from preparing for the cold. Harvest rhubarb only in the spring and early summer.

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  • Answered by
    Heather on
    December 11, 2011
    Certified Expert
    A.

    Some varieties of rhubarb are green stemmed. You may have a variety like this or one that does not turn red, but perhaps just gets a blush of it. You may be waiting too long to harvest. This would explain the woody stems, as if they will get woodier as they get older. Try harvesting younger stems, which will be more palatable.

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  • Answered by
    Nikki on
    April 2, 2012
    Certified Expert
    A.

    I would cut the flowers off, just to keep them from sapping energy from the rest of the plant, but you can still harvest the stalks. They will not be affected.

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  • Answered by
    Heather on
    April 8, 2012
    Certified Expert
    A.

    I am guessing that your rhubarb is an older plant. They tend to flower more when they get older. You can reduce future flowering by dividing the clump and replanting.

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  • Answered by
    Heather on
    April 8, 2012
    Certified Expert
    A.

    Rhubarb bolts (flowers) normally due to stress, be it from lack of water or heat or damage. Given the unusually warm temps this spring in many parts of the country, I would guess that heat is why it is bolting. They are also more prone to bolting when they are older. If your clump is a few years old, you may want to divide it to help rejuvenate it and reduce the chances it will bolt.

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