Rhubarb stems - poisonous in August?

I have always had rhubarb from the garden as when i first moved to my present location it was the only edible thing that was in the garden that was growing so beautifully.I have always used it or frozen every stalk that appeared until it died down for the Winter.I moved here in 1979 and am still here many crumbles,pies,and jams later ! ! ! ........Sue.

 

Love it, But what a price they ask for it in the shops, so decided to grow some
the plant is in its second year and making good progress.
Cook it very gently in the oven with the juice and the zest of an orange
eaten cold with vanilla ice cream it is hard to better

 

OK, my first year gardening and I planted 4 rhubarb shoots. 2 doing quite well (4 stems each and nice big leaves), the other 2 are struggling a bit.
Advice please. Do I cut down the stems that are there at any time or do I just leave everything alone to do its own thing?

 

leave alone, you can pick up the leaves when they fall off. The sugars in the stem will partially go back to the root as the stem and leaf wither. Increasing the roots energy store for next year.

 

What a load of rubbish.
We have been harvesting rhubarb up until 2 days ago, no issue.
The only reason books used to say end of june for last harvest was due to climate. That is old and out of date info.
Sure, we have picked our last crop now, but that is purely so the crown can build up nutrients prior to forcing in the spring.

Check my updates: www.readsretreat.blogspot.com
TTFN

 

Thanks Misterroy - will do as you say. Is it too late to plant some more rhubarb? I know a garden centre where they still have some in stock, and good quality also.

Many thanks

 

One final question (I think). During Autumn/Winter do they need any special care? I bought 4 plastic domes with vents thinking they may come in handy. Should I use them for the rhubarb?

 

I ignored my rhubarb for the first four years i had the house, even stored stuff in the patch, they need no care in the winter. They will probably be alright to plant now, but it would probably be better to plant them when dormant, its not far off.

If you are going to force them then thats a different matter, but you dont force young plants, so thats not a consideration.

http://www.rhubarbinfo.com/

 

Can you give me a brand name of a suitable fertilizer for Rhubarb. The soil really needs improving and I am sure the rhubarb I have planted needs a really good feed - but with what?

Many thanks

 

I dress the crown with about 20 litres of compost, mixed with generous handful of Growmore.

But hey, each to their own.

TTFN

www.readsretreat.blogspot.com

 

I've just eaten a load of rhubarb...I feel ok, although the room is slowing starting to turn.

Anyway, I can't see there being a problem, after all, there...I can't feel my legs at the moment, isn't that odd...where was I, ah yes rhubarb....uggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

Only kidding,

One tip you might want to follow. If this is the first year for your rhubarb; avoid taking any of it now so that it can use this year to build up on it's energy reserves and produce a large, healthy root crop for next year. This site seems to be devoted to the subject: http://www.rhubarbinfo.com/

 

Crikey - thats a lot of info!