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Garden Gate:  rhubarb  |
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nampafarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
494 Posts
Kim
Nampa
ID
USA
494 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 16 2010 : 11:45:53 AM
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my rhubarb is coming up. It has a head thing on some of the staulks that almost looks like a flower head. Am I supposed to cut this off? I wonder if its trying to bolt? I know that I dont include the tops in anythign to eat.
Kim
Farmgirl Sister # 302 |
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karla
True Blue Farmgirl
1308 Posts
karla
Pella
Iowa
USA
1308 Posts |
Posted - Apr 16 2010 : 12:10:51 PM
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Yes keep the flower heads from forming & you will have a stronger plant. When the rhubarb plant makes a flower head it quits "feeding" the stalks. Leaves are poisonous!
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. |
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CherryPie
True Blue Farmgirl
935 Posts
Kimberly Ann
Puyallup
WA
USA
935 Posts |
Posted - Apr 16 2010 : 12:20:06 PM
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Just out of curiosity (my first year growing rhubarb), how many stalks should you let the plant develop before you harvest some? I have about four stalks on my plant, though they aren't very long. No flower heads in sight though.
Kimberly Ann
Farmgirl Sister #225
Crochet Geek, Newbie Fiddler, Would-be Farmer, Backyard Chicken Rancher, Eager Podcaster
http://beesinourbonnetsintheburbs.blogspot.com/
Podcasts at http://thefannyfarm.blogspot.com/ |
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mrsamy
True Blue Farmgirl
167 Posts
Amy
Milwaukee
WI
USA
167 Posts |
Posted - Apr 16 2010 : 12:25:27 PM
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I've been told that if your plant keeps trying to shoot up those flowers it's a sign it needs to be divided. My son and I are quite diligent about getting those flowers out of there. I like to use the leaves that I cut off as mulch. It's easy peasy to just tear those leaves to fit around established plants.
I'm sure no expert, but I wouldn't harvest any stalks if you only have four so far. I think there's some rule of thumb, like not removing more than a third of a plant at any time, but again, I'm no expert.
Prayer costs nothing, but is worth the most. |
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karla
True Blue Farmgirl
1308 Posts
karla
Pella
Iowa
USA
1308 Posts |
Posted - Apr 16 2010 : 12:29:34 PM
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Usually if the stalks get smaller that your finger thivck then you need to leave them to get "fed" then it will start getting bigger stalks. If it is a young plant then it may need a year to get a good start going.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4567 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4567 Posts |
Posted - Apr 16 2010 : 5:25:44 PM
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I have always been told, that the first year for your rhubarb, you should not pull any stalks. Wait for the next year.
Michele |
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4860 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4860 Posts |
Posted - Apr 17 2010 : 3:42:46 PM
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I heard the same as Michele. I know it is hard to be patient, but it is worth waiting a year before harvesting anything.
I am amazed by the price of rhubarb at the grocery stores. It is $8 a pound by me!
Dawn in IL |
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Fiddlehead Farm
True Blue Farmgirl
4562 Posts
Diane
Waupaca
WI
USA
4562 Posts |
Posted - Apr 18 2010 : 04:41:12 AM
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Last year a neighbor gave me 5 heirloom rhubarb plants. I harvested them the first year! I just kept harvesting all through the summer. You should twist and pull the stalks gently up and out. The more I harvested the more it grew! This year they are looking great, getting close to harvesting some already. The neighbor told me the plants are 75 years old! They came from her grandmother's patch back in the 70's. So far, they have never bolted. I love rhubarb...rhubarb cake, rhubarb crunch, rhubarb pie and rhubarb jam.
Why not go out on a limb, that's where all the fruit is! "Mark Twain"
http://studiodiphotosite.shutterfly.com/
farmgirl sister #922 |
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JojoNH
True Blue Farmgirl
1984 Posts
Joanna
Dunbarton
New Hampshire
USA
1984 Posts |
Posted - Apr 18 2010 : 04:49:28 AM
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Rhubarb plants are hard to come by here in the north country. I did purchase one late last summer and planted it. . . now it is waking up and I am thrilled it survived!! The directions told me not to harvest from it until next year. It needs a full year to establish it's self. So I will allow it to grow undisturbed until next summer. . then all kinds of rhubarb dishes are planned!
Joanna #566
JojoNH
http://www.etsy.com/shop/CountryCents
http://CountryCents.Blogspot.com
http://Twitter.com/Eastwooddesigns |
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nampafarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
494 Posts
Kim
Nampa
ID
USA
494 Posts |
Posted - Apr 18 2010 : 08:21:50 AM
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I have been told the same thing, no harveting till the second year. When should I start pulling the stalks off?
Kim
Farmgirl Sister # 302 |
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sw80689
True Blue Farmgirl
207 Posts
Sharon
Papillion
Nebraska
USA
207 Posts |
Posted - Apr 18 2010 : 11:02:12 AM
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Does anyone know if there is a wild rhubarb that grows but you can't eat it?
Thanks,
Sharon
Farmgirl Sister #1393
*We are all angels with one wing, the only way to fly, therefore is to embrace one another* |
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Garden Gate: rhubarb |
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rhubarb
