[morverngirl]

Planted rhubarb this year in my raised bed, looks great and healthy with lots of sticks,I know I can't use them this year but do I leave everything to die down naturally or do i cut the sticks/leaves off and if so when. Thanks great site.

[DD.]

Leave it, and when died down, give it a good mulching with manure.

[dougsta]

I might get shot down for this but if you have lots of growth you'll be OK to take 1 or 2 stick. Treat yerself,   then let it die down and mulch well. I did this last yr with my two crowns which have come huge this yr.

[DavidT]

These are first year Rhubarb plants. Tomorrow I will advise the client to take a few stems.

[JohnB47]

Interesting.

My two Timperley Early, planted last Autumn, are now bigger than the plants that were on the site when I took it over. It's very difficult to resist the temptation to remove a couple of sticks - they look so good.

Maybe I'll take just a couple? 

[JayG]

Plants are only plants, and humans are only human! (Who hasn't "tidied up" a first year asparagus spear or a couple of rhubarb stalks which seemed to be making the rest of the plant look untidy?!)   

[Coop-a-Cabana]

Hi just to add i have three rhubarb plants which are in their third year. in the first year they grew huge and i have to admit i pulled more than one or two sticks off each plant.  It didn't have any effect on them the following year and now keep all my neighbours, family and work colleagues supplied with rhubarb and also have enough to freeze as well.  So in my very humble inexperience opinion go on tuck in

[morverngirl]

Thanks for response, I thought it must be poisonous or something in the first year when I read not to use, can anyone tell me why I shouldn't use it-is it like asparagus ,needing energy or something, like to know reasons why and then i understand and it helps my decision making

[noshed]

It just needs to get established before you start pulling it. Mine has been huge this year - mainly because I mulched it thickly with rotted manure and compost over the winter. So leave it alone this year, give it a good mulching when it has died down and it will be grand next year.