Rhubarb plants - Ask Extension
I noticed that something is eating my rhubarb this year. The leaves & all but 6" of the stem are gone. I have never had this happen before....
Knowledgebase
Rhubarb plants #872681
Asked June 11, 2024, 6:00 PM EDT
I noticed that something is eating my rhubarb this year. The leaves & all but 6" of the stem are gone. I have never had this happen before. Do you have any ideas what might be eating it & what to do about it?
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
Since you've not provided photos, I'll assume that the leaves did not look diseased or spotted, but were just eaten away.
Rhubarb leaves contain high levels of oxalic acid and so are poisonous to many pests. But there still are a few that can survive it. Most likely would be slugs:
https://ask2.extension.org/kb/faq.php?id=263914
Find some other possibilities here:
https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-1631
Rhubarb leaves contain high levels of oxalic acid and so are poisonous to many pests. But there still are a few that can survive it. Most likely would be slugs:
https://ask2.extension.org/kb/faq.php?id=263914
Find some other possibilities here:
https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-1631
I will take a closer look at my plants to see if there are slugs. Thanks so much!
