How to Harvest and Store Rhubarb

How to Store Rhubarb

Once in the kitchen cut away the leafy top leaving only the colored stalks. ...
Fresh harvested stalks are best for cooking and freezing.
Store rhubarb in a cold and moist place, 32°-40°F (0°-4°C) and 95 percent relative humidity. ...
Cut stems will keep in the refrigerator for two to four weeks.

When should you not pick rhubarb?
Should you cut or pull rhubarb?
Does rhubarb grow back after you pick it?
How long after you pick rhubarb is it good?
Are coffee grounds good for rhubarb?
Why is my rhubarb thin and spindly?
Should I pick all my rhubarb?
Should I cut back rhubarb for winter?
Is Miracle Grow good for rhubarb?
Can you dig up and replant rhubarb?
How do you winterize rhubarb?
What should not be planted near Rhubarb?

When should you not pick rhubarb?

It is generally recommended that home gardeners stop harvesting rhubarb in early to mid-June. Continued harvest through the summer months would weaken the plants and reduce the yield and quality of next year's crop. The rhubarb stalks may become somewhat woody by mid-summer, but they don't become poisonous.

Should you cut or pull rhubarb?

Technically, pulling is preferred because it allows the plant to recover a little more quickly, but cutting won't kill the plant, it'll just take longer to bounce back. Leave at least 1/3 of the stalks on the plant in spring time to ensure it continues to grow and thrive throughout the summer.

Does rhubarb grow back after you pick it?

When to Harvest Rhubarb

The stalks are ready to harvest when they're between 7 and 15 inches long. The best time to harvest rhubarb is during the months of May, June and early July. After this, it's best to let the plant be, so it can regrow and recharge to survive the winter.

How long after you pick rhubarb is it good?

The best stalks to harvest should be at least 10 to 15 inches long. You can keep harvesting from your plant, roughly 8 to 10 weeks, for rhubarb established more than four years and 1 to 3 weeks for less. Make sure to leave some stalks—usually a third to near half of the plant—to help your rhubarb recover.

Are coffee grounds good for rhubarb?

Coffee grounds are highly acidic, they note, so they should be reserved for acid-loving plants like azaleas and blueberries. ... Fertilizing Rhubarb The year after planting, it's a good idea to fertilize your rhubarb plants in early spring, before the plant begins to sprout significantly.

Why is my rhubarb thin and spindly?

Newly planted rhubarb will initially produce small, spindly stalks during its 2 year establishment period. The stalks of large, old plants may be small and spindly because of overcrowding. Poor plant vigor due to poor cultural practices is another possibility. ... Early spring is the best time to divide rhubarb plants.

Should I pick all my rhubarb?

Do not harvest in the first season after planting, and harvest only lightly in the second season to avoid weakening the crowns. From seedling plants, harvest in the second season after planting or in the first season after division. Stalks should be pulled rather than cut, to prevent rotting of the remaining stump.

Should I cut back rhubarb for winter?

Prune back the rhubarb stalks to the ground in late fall or early winter after they begin to die back naturally from frost. Rhubarb may not die back completely if temperatures remain above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, but dead and damaged leaves can still be removed throughout winter, cutting them with shears or a knife.

Is Miracle Grow good for rhubarb?

You can use a 10-10-10 fertlizer , Miracle-Grow All Purpose Plant Food (I follow directions on package for a gallon of water) or use well rotted mature. I would not use granular fertilizer direct on the ground because it has a way of burning your plant.

Can you dig up and replant rhubarb?

Splitting your rhubarb plants isn't rocket science. Simply dig around the root clump, 6 inches deep (15 cm.) and lift the whole plant from the ground. ... You can achieve a larger plant by replanting small root divisions with one bud on them in the same hole.

How do you winterize rhubarb?

Just keep any mulch away from the crown of the plant, which can encourage rot. To prepare your plant for winter, after the first hard frost, cut back any remaining stalks and dress with a light 2 inch layer of compost, leaves, or hay to protect the roots through the winter.

What should not be planted near Rhubarb?

For example, rhubarb, sunflowers, and thistles are all susceptible to curculios, a weevil that bores into cylindrical stalks to lay its eggs, and should not be planted near one another.