Rhubarb
My Rhubarb I planted early last summer, transplanted from my mother in law's yard has exploded in growth this summer. I read online that I shouldn't harvest after July 4, but there is so much growth I am wondering what, if anything, I should do to care for it this fall.
Hennepin County Minnesota
3 Responses
Thank you for writing.
Harvest away (I presume you know that you should pull rather than cut the leaves off).
I pull the leaves that are lying on the ground and cut all flower stems.
You can take about a third more of the plant this season. There are a lot of rules but the specialists are happier with an extended season.https://www.rhubarb-central.com/harvesting-rhubarb.html
This fall, to prep for winter, do I trim all the leaves and stalks back to the ground or leave some for protection from the cold?
Thank you!
Thank you for writing back. I have never pruned rhubarb except to strip the dead stalks away after the freeze in the spring. My plants are over 30 years old in Hennepin county. Here is a view https://homeguides.sfgate.com/trim-rhubarb-39678.html#:~:text=Trim%20back%20the%20entire%20plant,trim%20off%20the%20dead%20stalks.