Rhubarb
Maid of jam
Posts: 5
in Fruit & veg
My rhubarb has huge leavesnand some thick woody stalks but they're not very red yet. Not! sure if they're under or over ripe! Help!
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Maid of jam
Posts: 5
Maid of jam
Posts: 5
Maid of jam
Posts: 5
Posts
Rhubarb does not have to be red to be eaten. The best rhubarb to eat is in the epring and early summer when shoots are young. Now your rhubarb would be tough and stringy - I also believe that after mid summer you should not pull anymore but let the plant recoup in order to get a good crop next year....someone on here will correct me if that is not right!
I think that's right Daintiness.
Rhubarb isn't a fruit in the botanical sense. it doesn't ripen but as Daintiness says, it will get tough.
you can eat it as soon as it's big enough to be worth cutting.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Not all rhubarb varieties have red stalks, either.
Thanks all. I've left it too long I think!
will it be ok to make jam perhaps?
If I were you I'd leave it on the plant now as with the approach of autumn the nutrients in the stems and leaves will start to return to the crown (root) of the plant and it will build up reserves of energy to produce the stems and leaves next spring. If you take stems at this time of year you're robbing the plant of the chance to do that and you'll get a poorer crop next spring.
I'd just tidy the plant up when it's died down, and give it a good mulch with well rotted farmyard manure for the winter. It will repay you dividends next spring.