[Benny130]

Hi, having recently taken over the plot the only thing other than weeds and grass is rhubarb i think which i d like to keep.

Looking at my neighbours theirs seems to have been cut down showing only tiny bits of red stalk above ground.

This is what mine looks like.....Do I need to do anything to it other than remove the grass!?

[simonwatson]

That looks fine, it's just showing some new growth is all. Rhubarb is about as tough as it gets and even when truly abused often produces good crops. Clear back the grass a bit so that the crown can't get waterlogged. Put some general purpose fertilizer granules on it and watch it go.

[DD.]

Your neighbour's is probably a later variety and only just showing. We've have a clump on our plots that is probably just a bit ahead of the one in your photo, with some stalks about 8" long. However all the other clumps are only just starting to show.

A bit of manure thrown over it won't hurt!

[mumofstig]

It's an early variety like mine - I'm going to have the first small picking this weekend.
Can't wait 

[DD.]

I'm hoping for next week - it's colder here way up north in the Midlands! 

[Benny130]

So when they stalks get a bit bigger i just cut from low down?

[simonwatson]

You don't need to cut them, grab them near the based and pull whilst twisting and they'll come away. Only take a few at a time and leave plenty of leaves to keep on growing.

[Kristen]

So when they stalks get a bit bigger i just cut from low down?

Better to pull, rather than cut, as cut stems can become infected / rot.

I start harvesting once the stalks are 9" - 12" long and I aim to take no more than half the stalks

I stop harvesting around the end of July. (I have multiple varieties including early which spreads the picking season )

[Benny130]

Thanks all