[annieandjeremy]

We have just taken over a new plot and have found a good growth of rhubarb.  Can we pick the rhubarb for eating as we understand that it should be picked inearly summer?  We are going to move the  crown to a more convenient positon on the plot and we are considering splitting the crown into 2 pieces if it is large enough.

Advice would be most welcome.  Thanks

[Yorkie]

Welcome to the site 

I will move this across to the Grow Your Own forum as it's a question about growing your own  , but please do pop back into the Welcome forum to introduce yourself 

The stalks will be very tough, full of acid, and the plant should be focusing on building its energy up for next year now, so I'd advise against pulling the rhubarb now.

Yes it can be split, generally over the back end of the year.

[stentman]

Normally once past July rhubarb should be left unpicked for two reasons. One to give the plant time to rebuild it's reserves before the onset of winter and two because within the stems the acid levels become to high and you risk an upset tum. As to moving it best wait  until it's dormant to move it though rhubarb is pretty indestructable stuff. Whether you can make two crowns from one will depend upon it's size I would suspect though those with greater knowledge will have a much better idea.

Memo to self - must improve typing speed 

[Solidthegreat]

Hi, i was told recently that you should never eat rhubarb from late june onwards. Apparently the plant fills with oxcalic? acid or something like that to help it through the rest of the year. Apparently it can give you a bad tummy ache. Just like eating the leaves can. So i would avoid personally.

[annieandjeremy]

Thanks for the advice.  Annie did some internet research this morning too.  We'll leave iot as it is and move it later into the winter.

Jeremy

[JohnB47]

Hi.

Is this the only rhubarb plant that you have? The reason I ask is that, if you split it this Autumn/Winter, it may not be wise to pick from the resultant plants next year, so as to give them time to recover and put on lots of root growth. (Others may disagree).

My advice would be to leave it for now, and plant another one this Autumn. Then take your harvest from the old one next year and split it in late Autumn of 2011. Then leave that for a year and take from the one you planted this Autumn.

That way you'll get an overlap and a consistent supply. (Also, you get to plant a known variety - we often don't know the variety of plants left by the previous user).

I wish I'd realised this before I ripped out two gooseberry bushes and planted new ones - I've ended up not having any gooseberries this year. I should have left the old ones alone until the new ones came to full production. Wise after the event again.

Anyway, good luck with your new venture.