Can we talk about Rhubarb?

Rose, I don’t pull any I just cut at the base with a sharp knife. My dad says to pull rhubarb too. Never understood the purpose of pulling it since it pulls some of the roots out. As long as the stems are deep redish purple go for it…........Also for a twist on receipes look for one that uses orange juice too….Rog

-- Listen quitely and nature will tell you what to do..Open your eyes widely and you will be amazed..

I’ve always just pulled the stalks. I think the broken roots just make more plants. Can you really kill those things?? :)

(and yes, you should leave it the first year)

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a) http://www.execulink.com/~yohan

I jeard that you use a sort of rocking motion not just pulling straight out.
I can’t believe I have to let all that beautiful rhubarb sit and die.

-- If you always do what you always did, then you will always get what you always got!...Lanoka Harbor, NJ 6b

Twist and pull…I would go for a sample now, rhubarb is hardy.

-- Xploreorganics, 5b Canada, LFD 06-20

You can cut it any time . Pulling as suggested could damage new roots.

Enjoy!

Bob

-- I want to believe in a lot of things but, in the meantime I have to deal with the truth

I guess it is just one more of those opinion things, cut or pull we should take a vote :-)

-- If you always do what you always did, then you will always get what you always got!...Lanoka Harbor, NJ 6b

I read somewhere, but can’t find it now that cutting leaves many wounds which allows for plant damage, whereas pulling properly is clean. I have never pulled out roots on mine.

-- Xploreorganics, 5b Canada, LFD 06-20

http://www.beatrice-ojakangas.com/2004/08/rhubarb-time-again.htm
This has some really nice old fashioned recipes you might like.
I didn’t know you should pick Rhubarb before the 4th of July.
I planted mine late this year so it is ready and I am going to steal a few stalks, just becasue 8^)

XO, I believe it is best to gently pull instead of cutting, cutting always leaves a plant open to bacteria.

-- If you always do what you always did, then you will always get what you always got!...Lanoka Harbor, NJ 6b

Mine should have died about 25 years ago then. <g>

Bob

-- I want to believe in a lot of things but, in the meantime I have to deal with the truth

Maybe that is what happened to mine. I had been cutting, but the plant was getting smaller and smaller. I’ll have to pull ... before the 4th of July. :)

-- jroot

Bob, whatever you are doing do not change it, I read that Rhubarb lasts about 10-15 years.
How long have you had yours?

Another question, do they multiply fast or slow?

-- If you always do what you always did, then you will always get what you always got!...Lanoka Harbor, NJ 6b

I beleve they are McDonalds variety and I have two plants that I divide about every 3- 4 years and give away,

We brought them here to this house in 1980 from my wifes mothers garden
Linda cuts them off to the ground with a butcher knife about now and then agian in early September.
They get no other special attention.

Bob

-- I want to believe in a lot of things but, in the meantime I have to deal with the truth

Bob, You better not give them special attention or you might kill them. 8^)

-- If you always do what you always did, then you will always get what you always got!...Lanoka Harbor, NJ 6b

If no water and cramped up in a corner wont work we may have to use TLC! <vbg>

From garden2009

-- I want to believe in a lot of things but, in the meantime I have to deal with the truth

WOW, they are unbelievable Bob, Have you ever tried to grow them from seed, just for fun?
Seriouly they are spectacular, I am so jealous, you got my mouth watering, I am going to cut just one stalk from each plant just to try. I have waited so long for Rhubarb. Some say I can some say I can’t: guess who I am going with. 8^)

Thanks for that lovely picture, I never knew they had flowers till today: do they smell nice?

-- If you always do what you always did, then you will always get what you always got!...Lanoka Harbor, NJ 6b

Just for comparison, this is “pulled” rhubarb. This variety has red flowers. This plant was taken with us from our old home, where we grew about 100 ft of rhubarb. The plant was pot bound for 4 years and looked dead. Last year we transplanted it into the garden and it’s doing well this year. I have started rhubarb from seed and have 3 young plants growing now, the seed needs cold stratification so should be direct sown in very early spring before the last frost.

-- Xploreorganics, 5b Canada, LFD 06-20

Great photo shots and explanation. Thanks, X.

-- jroot

Another WOW, looks good enough to eat, especially topped with a bit of whipped creaqm, yum! 8^)
Thanks

-- If you always do what you always did, then you will always get what you always got!...Lanoka Harbor, NJ 6b

To cut or to pull.Just a matter of choice.My family and a lot of flolks around us always took the butcher knife out to the rhubarb patch when they wanted some.There was never any damge due to bugs or whatever and the rhubarb always grew back beautifully.So my new patch of rhubarb was cut by knife and it is growing back really well.

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

I guess that is what makes the world go round, the differences we like are endless.
like staking tomatoes or not,
jam or preserves,
cobbler or streusel,
cake or pie,
hot or cold tea,
milk or cream, yada yada yada yada, right?
Somehow I think I will pull not cut, especially since I am dangerous with a knife in my hand. 8^)

-- If you always do what you always did, then you will always get what you always got!...Lanoka Harbor, NJ 6b

Come to think of it, I don’t think I have ever seen a sick rhubarb plant.
They certianly are the toughies of the garden.
There’s a pretty decent write up about the plant here.
Bob

-- I want to believe in a lot of things but, in the meantime I have to deal with the truth

Bob I saw that one it agrees that either pulling or cutting is ok.
But still says I have to wait to have some this year. So if I take a stalk from each plant is it going to die, I don’t think so, I will chance it. 8^)
Thanks for that it is a good site, short and simple

-- If you always do what you always did, then you will always get what you always got!...Lanoka Harbor, NJ 6b

I found this link to a video showing how to harvest rhubarb.
http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-harvest-rhubarb

I hope this helps. This is the way my dad used to do it.

-- jroot

JRoot.
I saw that guy on youtube he does alot of those videos.
Thanks, that one I am going to save sounded like the best one yet. So that means I can’t have any this year boohoo….

-- If you always do what you always did, then you will always get what you always got!...Lanoka Harbor, NJ 6b

Had to fave this for further reading.. Really wanna try Rhubarb next year.

-- Planting Daylilies in Kentucky, zone 6b

Scott mine is growing so much and it is my first year and I can’t even eat any. I just bought some at the market.
You can’t even eat much next year either but it will be worth the wait.

after that you will have plenty.

Actually can’t you still plant it?

-- If you always do what you always did, then you will always get what you always got!...Lanoka Harbor, NJ 6b

I’m sure I could, but too much other stuff going on.. Have 20 large daylily clumps to plant from a forth cull seedling bed we bought.

-- Planting Daylilies in Kentucky, zone 6b