[upwood]

Apologies if this has come up before - I'm new to the forum. Is it an old wives tale that you shouldn't harvest rhubarb after August because it is poisonous? I have consulted all my books and none of them mention this fact. The only reason I have come across for not continuing to harvest is that the plant needs time to regain its strength for next year. I also read that frost can cause the oxalic acid in the leaves to migrate down into the stems. But we havent had any frost yet. So if anyone can point me in the direction of any good evidence that it IS poisonous, I'd be very grateful. If not, I'm going to eat it ... 

[Sue33]

well we picked some at the weekend and it was delicious hot with custard    no ill-effects 

[noshed]

Late picked stuff may tend to 'go through' you a bit more but you'd probably have to eat an awful lot to have any ill effects. Mine is having an autumn surge at the moment, because of all the rain, but I think I'll leave it, then mulch it over the winter in the hope of a big crop next year.

[Beetroot queen]

We ate a crumble monday night and it was fine, hubby was sick late on Monday night but he hadnt had any crumble so it wasn't that that caused it 

[realfood]

I do not pick any rhubarb after June, as the early stuff is far superior in taste and texture. It also allows the rhubarb plant to recover before the Winter.

[Swing Swang]

I pick and eat late season rhubarb - SS

[DD.]

That explains a lot of things. 

[solway cropper]

I never pick after July to allow the plant to build up reserves for the following year. The fresh sticks are nice as it gives the first fruit crumble of the year but later on there are so many other fruits on the go and if I really want rhubarb I always have some in the freezer.

[MoreWhisky]

I never have picked after the longest day.

But having read this thread i might pull some tommorrow and have a try.

[shokkyy]

Well, I wasn't planning on picking any, but as it happens a couple of sticks have just sort of fallen off, so it would be a shame to waste them

[Aunt Sally]

Oxalic acid and other toxin levels do rise as the summer progresses.  Late picked rhubarb might make your tummy a bit more... 'urgent' but it won't kill you.

This is a very good information sheet http://www.rhubarbinfo.com/poison

It says that you have to eat around 11 lbs of leaves to kill you   

[Aidy]

I am with the other two, well sort of. Never pick after the longest day.
Reasoning: Get some energy back into the plant for the winter.

[Aunt Sally]

I find the flavour of the early picked sticks to be sweeter and fruitier, more tender too.   I never pick after June time either.

[RichardA]

I have 8 plants in all, we love the earliest stuff and we force 2 of the plants in rotation. Any late pickings are taken a stick or two at a time from any of the 6 plants NOT intended for forcing in the next round.
Heavy picking for freezing and for pies for freezing and for giving to family etc rarely happens after about end of june.
R

[Swing Swang]

@RichardA - I do similar.
@DD - ha ha
@Aunt Sally - an 'urgent' tummy is a very good thing - better out than in!