The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Growing => Fruit => Topic started by: tomandbarbara on August 06, 2009, 07:55:37 am
-
I divided up a rhubarb crown last year and I was wondering whether it is okay to harvest the stalks this year.
My neighbour tells me that i should leave it until next year.
-
You're not supposed to harvest in the first year after planting and even after that you should only pick a small amount from each plant for the first couple of years for them to become established -you should always leave about a third of the stalks on the plant at any one time anyway apparently.
I followed this method when I planted mine and it now grows every year to immense proportions and from 3 crowns I get more rhubarb than I can manage even when giving lots away! My mum however ignored the 'don't pick in the first year' rule and has the smallest, most pathetic rhubarb ever known.
-
It's too late now anyway, as it goes far too acidic from mid-July. :&>
-
The old guideline was dont't pick Rhubarb after the gooseberries have been harvested