Rhubarb fans are eagerly awaiting the beginning of the harvest season. The season is over all too quickly. Below we will tell you when to harvest rhubarb and what mistakes you should avoid.
When and how should you harvest rhubarb?
The rhubarb harvest begins at the beginning of April, when the stalks take on a rich red or fresh green color. Harvest no later than June 24th, St. John's Day, to avoid toxic oxalic acid and growth problems. The first harvest should only take place in the second year after planting.
Smooth poles signal the beginning of the harvest
With good care it will be ready from the beginning of April. The tissue between the ribs on the rhubarb stalks becomes smooth. At the same time, they take on an appetizing rich red or fresh green color. This is the starting signal for this year's harvest.
- grasp the stem at the base and twist out clockwise
- Never cut rhubarb stalks with a knife
If the stem is separated from the plant, now cut off the leaf because it is inedible. You should also remove the whitish stalk in the lower area because there is a risk of an increased oxalic acid content.
Until when can rhubarb be harvested safely?
The rhubarb harvest season traditionally ends on St. John's Day, June 24th. This makes sense for the following reasons:
- poles picked in summer have a higher concentration of toxic oxalic acid
- The growth spurt at the end of June serves exclusively to regenerate a rhubarb plant
In agriculture, St. John's Day is important in many ways as a lottery day. At this time, Mother Nature takes another step forward and encourages a second shoot in many plants. Same with rhubarb.
When is a rhubarb plant harvested for the first time?
Although rhubarb is a heavy feeder, the plant has enough potential for a lifespan of seven years. In order for this vigor to fully develop, it should not be harvested in the year after planting.
- First harvest of rhubarb at the earliest in the second year after planting
- the first harvest season ideally ends in mid-May
- always leave a few rhubarb stalks on the plant
The joy of the first home-grown rhubarb is great. In order to ensure a long lifespan, experienced hobby gardeners ended this season early. Such consideration for the vitality of the plant is rewarded with rich harvests in the following years.
How to harvest earlier and more abundantly
Rhubarb season is tight. It has barely started at the beginning of April and the harvest fun is over again by the end of June at the latest. Knowledgeable hobby gardeners know how to start harvesting earlier and produce higher yields using the following tricks:
- Cover rhubarb with fleece from January
- alternatively surround with a thick layer of horse manure
- break the rhubarb blossom immediately
If rhubarb doesn't bloom, the plant saves a lot of energy. She invests this in the formation of new, tasty stalks for a lush harvest.
Tips & Tricks
Rhubarb can be stored longer in the refrigerator after harvesting if you wrap the stalks in wet kitchen towels. Under no circumstances should rhubarb be stored in aluminum cans because even a minimal amount of oxalic acid reacts chemically with the metal.
