Red Splotches On Rhubarb Plants/garden Ctr. Identified Them As Ramularia A Fungus & Said Fungus Came From The Crowns & Plant S/b

Question

destroyed/your site verified fungus in root stalk but didn’t say plant s/b destroyed needed to be destroyed – is that true? plants are 4+ yrs. old / planted crowns / fungus appeared approx. 2 yrs. ago / only leaves affected but stalks are healthy … ok to eat?

Answer 1

The article does say to destroy any affected leaves. It also says that the infection is spread by wind and splashing water, so it will keep reinfecting itself. Good sanitation can help to keep the disease at bay. I looked up several references and didn't see mention of destroying the whole plant.

https://pubs.extension.wsu.edu/growing-rhubarb-in-home-gardens

https://news.extension.uconn.edu/2014/08/06/should-i-eat-that/

https://newswire.caes.uga.edu/story/1704/safe-garden.html

https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/2018/10/can-sick-plants-make-people-sick

http://www.ladybug.uconn.edu/FactSheets/rhubarb.php