Old Rhubarb

[Forget-me-Not]

Hi,

We have patches of rhubarb sprouting up in svereal places at the back of the garden where it's been unkept for a while. It could be years old, would it be Ok to cook and eat? I'm planting fresh stuff this year, where I want it to be but not sure whther the old stuff would be lethal or delicious?

Thanks
Beth

[Snadger]

The old stuff should be fine, in fact it may compliment your new stuff which may reach maturity at a different time, depending on variety. You'll then have a succession of mature rhubarb to eat!

[JennieAtkinson]

We moved here 15 years ago to a very established rhubarb bed and i am still cutting it all this time later! Just make sure you don't let it go to seed. Older rhubarb does tend to do that quite quickly.

[rustylady]

Established (old) rhubarb plants are fine, and tend to produce more shoots than new plantings, especially if in good soil or fed well. You can dig up old rhubarb roots and divide to make new plants instead of buying in new stock.

[Forget-me-Not]

Hi,
Thanks ever so much for the replies. We'll look forward to eating it now.

Beth

[running_muttley]

I've got a bit of rhubarb that came from my mothers garden which originally came from my Great Uncle's allotment almost 40 years ago. Enjoy it, recommend rhubarb crumble.

[snuffer]

Rhubarb

As many grapes have said old Rhubarb will be fine. Just remember that newly planted Rhubarb including old plants that have been devided and replanted should not be picked in their first year in order to allow the leaves to do their job and feed the root. The following year the plants will have all that stored energy to draw on.

If you have an established bed take from that this year. Plant up the new rhubarb (plenty of well rotted manure and compost) and then next year when you can be taking from this; dig up, devide and replant the old stuff. That way you don't have to miss out on the crop for a year.

Hope that makes sense and is of some help.

[dasantillo]

It could be years old, would it be Ok to cook and eat?

You don't have to cook it - I used to love muching on a raw rhubarb stalk straight from the ground when I was a kid. I tried it again the other day with fresh, forced rhubarb and it was lovely! Not sure how the older stuff tastes raw, but I'd try it :-)

If you only want to cook it lightly, we put it in a saucepan with frozen berries from last year and defrost the berries on the hob which lightly cooks the rhubarb. Pour over meringue and add ice cream. Lovely!