05/14/2026
Good rhubarb advice here.
My first harvest of rhubarb this year! Remember: Don't cut off the stalks. Cutting leaves part of the stalk to rot on the plant. This can allow disease to enter; it also tricks the plant into thinking the stalk has stayed on the plant and matured - and therefore it thinks there's no need to produce a replacement stalk. On the other hand, if you take the lower part of the stalk in your hand and twist and pull up gently, the full stock gets removed, which sends a signal to the plant to grow more stalks.
Other rhubarb tips:
1. Wait until year 2 to harvest rhubarb, and then only harvest 3-4 stalks.
2. In year 3 and beyond, always leave at least 6 stalks on the plant.
3. Harvest stalks when they are 10-12 inches long. (Color does *not* predict ripeness; some rhubarb varieties never get red.)
4. Stop harvesting in late July, to ensure a vigorous and abundant plant for the following year.
5 Rhubarb leaves are not edible for humans or animals. Cut them off, right in the garden, and lay them down around the base of the plant. They'll act as mulch to keep moisture in the soil and as they decompose, they'll fertilize the plant. Or, if you prefer, throw them in your compost pile.
6. If a flower bud appears on your plant (common after temperature fluctuations), cut it off, stem and all, immediately. If you let it stay, the plant will put most of its energy into producing seeds.
7. The easiest way to preserve rhubarb is to chop it and freeze it.
8. The best way to propagate rhubarb is to divide the plant in the spring or fall. For the health and vigor of the plant, divide it every 5-10 years.
