rhubarb

May 21, 2015 21:06

My rhubarb plant is looking really healthy, for probably the first time ever. So how do you know when rhubarb is ready to pick?

vegetables

Leave a comment

Comments 5

virginiadear May 22 2015, 13:23:58 UTC
There seems to be a power of information out there about growing (and harvesting) rhubarb ( ... )

Reply

ooxc May 22 2015, 18:14:52 UTC
You use a knife? I'm sure we used to just pull the stems from the crowns - don't yu lose all the juice if you cut the stem?
Edit: I see now that one of your links says:
"Harvest by grasping each leafstalk near the base and pulling it slightly to one side. Stalks can also be cut with a knife."

Reply

virginiadear May 26 2015, 22:18:48 UTC
I do use a knife, yes. Hasn't caused all the juice in the stalk to be lost, yet; hasn't even caused a noticeable loss of juice at all, actually.

The biggest disadvantage I can think of when using a knife to harvest rhubarb stalks is the risk of nicking another stalk very close to the one I'm taking at that moment.

Reply

low_delta May 23 2015, 01:56:54 UTC
Well, I knew that it was harvested in June... it turns out that really is all there is. I was expecting something specific about what it looks like, or something.

To sum up the answers from those sites:
"Rhubarb is harvested in late May and throughout June in Ohio."

"Early spring stems offer the most flavor and tenderness. Stems harvested later in the season are often pithy. Stop harvesting as stems get shorter and thinner."

"To be honest, rhubarb is “ripe” all spring and summer. The best time when to harvest rhubarb is when the stalks of the leaves reach at least 10” long."

"In Canada and the United States, the rhubarb season runs from about April to September."

"The rhubarb season (in the United States) runs from April to September."

Turns out I really did know most of what there is to know about harvesting rhubarb.

Thanks!

Reply


Leave a comment

Up