[anitaws]

loved the link.

Peapod never worry about wandering off my topic, I think everyone can bring something interesting in and it usually all makes good reading.

Anita

[newseedling]

Just checked out the video stream supplied by kristen, very helpful, cheers.  On the note of rhubard leaves i compost mine and also boil equal amounts of leaves and water with a little soap detergent to make an organic pesticide for aphids etc in the greenhouse. How green of me!

[LeadFarmer]

Dont cut it off. Grab the stalk by its base and pull it away with a slight twist if necessary. This way you will remove the whole stem without leaving any behind.

Always leave a few stems/leaves on the plant.

[andtiggertoo]

definately pull, as advised by others. when you get the technique right it should pull away with the papery bit intact, leaving no part of stem behind on the plant.  I have lots of it growing in my garden and have often pulled down to one leaf on each shoot but it is a very established rhubarb patch.

I put leaves on compost heap.

[Stripey_cat]

Since no-one's actually given the reason yet: you pull it off because if you cut or snap it you leave a little stump of stem which will rot, and the rot (or other diseases) can get into the crown and weaken or kill the lot.  It's one of those things that, normally, you can get away with, but if it goes wrong is so spectacular that you don't want to take the risk (like cleaning cuts on your hands properly after you've been digging - most of the time they'll heal fine, or at worst get a bit inflamed, but occasionally someone will lose a finger or die of blood poisoning!).

[Babstreefern]

I also compost my leaves, also, if you have an old dustbin (without holes), you can fill it with water, then put your rhubarb leaves in it, leave it a month or two, it smells hideous, but it makes a great fertiliser.

And don't forget to pull any flowers that may grow, as its going to seed.