When do you stop pulling rhubarb

After mid July, the stems contain more and more oxalic acid which can cause stomach upsets and exacerbate arthritis and gout in susceptible people. The advice is always to stop picking by end of July which also allows the plants to build up reserves for next year's crop. Obelixx, you star :- I've always known about not picking after mid July but I've never known the reason why.

Many thnaks both. I knew you had to stop eating rhubarb after a certain time but never knew the reason why. Think my rhubarb is taking over the world keep 1hacking it back as its encroaching over the path. Thanx for the info. Just worked out how to do the smiley face Doh. My rhubarb - a dozen large plants - was also looking very healthy till the gales arrived on Sunday night.

It's now looking very flat with nearly all the stems broken off at the base. I shall let it flop and go limp and then divide it between the. That's ok, I always leave sufficient sticks on the plant. The variety didn't fruit till a long time after the early varieties, so I guess yesterday's harvest was still OK but I won't touch it from now on.

Thanks for your help everyone. It's fine to still be pulling on a mature plant, just don't take them all. Wouldn't take any off a young plant though. Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then.

Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

Which one are you and is it how you want to be? Latest Topics. Reply to What I intend to do today or tomorrow number2. Reply to Just for Fun 6. Reply to Chitchat thread View All. Recent Blog Posts. The rhubarb stalks may become somewhat woody by mid-summer, but they don't become poisonous. Rhubarb is a unique vegetable that people use in cooking and baking.

Since it may be high in oxalate, you should avoid eating too much of it and try to select stalks from low-oxalate varieties. On the bright side, rhubarb is a good source of antioxidants, vitamin K, and fiber.

There is no harm in letting your rhubarb flower , but keep in mind that energy the rhubarb plant puts towards making a flower and growing seeds is energy that will not being directed towards growing leaves. Raw : Before you do any cooking with rhubarb , you ought to at least try it raw. Note: Be sure to remove all the leaves, as they are poisonous. Many suggest dipping the stalk in sugar or some other sweet, such as honey, maple syrup or agave nectar, to mellow its tartness a touch.

Fertilizing Rhubarb The year after planting , it's a good idea to fertilize your rhubarb plants in early spring , before the plant begins to sprout significantly. Use an all purpose fertilizer - a formula works well. Compost or well rotted manure also works well as a fertilizer. If the rhubarb dries out, it is better to apply a few deep waterings, a few days apart, than to water it with light waterings every day.

Also, if possible, water plants in the early morning so that the plant foliage has opportunity to dry during the day. Do not water the plants in the heat of a sunny day. The easiest way to store rhubarb so you can enjoy it when it's out of season is to freeze it: cut stalks into 1-inch pieces; lay them flat on a parchment-lined baking pan. Freeze until firm, a few hours. Transfer to freezer bags and store in the freezer for up to a year.

Peeling rhubarb is not necessary, but I peeled some of the skin off each stalk, just as you would peel the strings out of a celery stalk. Quarter the strawberries. Place the strawberries on their heads, after cutting off the stems. Just before it rains, coffee - grounds can be sprinkled in and around shrubs and plants. This will slowly release the nitrogen into your soil. You can also include tea-bags in your coffee compost brew. Make sure it is well diluted with water. When should you stop picking rhubarb in the UK?

Category: food and drink desserts and baking. Should you cut or pull rhubarb?