Is my rhubarb ready to pick ?

[Norburger]

Spent a few hours on the plot this morning and am marvelled at the size of the rhubarb, looking at the photo do you think its ready to start taking a few off. This has not been forced by the way.

[shirlthegirl43]

Difficult to tell how long those stalks are in the piccy. Lucky you having it that far along though.

[chicken slave]

mine has just got weedy stalks on it at the moment, will be a few weeks before it catches up I think.

How lucky are you?

[Norburger]

How long a stalk would leave before picking ??

[Norburger]

Interestingly quite a few other Rhubarbs on the site are small too.. I wonder is there an early variety ?

[coomber]

Mine looks similar, I will be waiting a few more weeks to pick though - I wait until they are about 50cm or so

[Jardiniere]

Cor ...rhubarb envy....what would Freud say?

[FionaH]

Mines had a real growth spurt too I got it from a neighbour last year, should I leave it this year, treat as a new crown, and pick it next year? Or can i eat it this year?

[tricky]

ive got two crowns in my own garden which have got good growth on themi fed them over winter with used compost and watered when dry.
Im sure the crowns in my garden are different variety to lottie as they are not half as big yet.
still lots of delicious crumbles for me.
It would be interesting to hear Freuds theory jardiniere

[Flummery]

I'd say it was, from the picture. Give the stalks a sharp tug so they come away from the joining point - don't cut them. Once you start pulling them like this it makes room for more and it will keep coming and coming.

Wish mine was ready!

[Flummery]

Mines had a real growth spurt too I got it from a neighbour last year, should I leave it this year, treat as a new crown, and pick it next year? Or can i eat it this year?

Go on, pick a few!

If it's a good sized crown it will cope. If it's just a titchy offset I'd leave it. Stop picking in July and the dying foliage will bulk up the crown for further years. It's much more acid at that time of the year too so you've had the best of it by then.

[FionaH]

Ok, will do thanks for the tip!

[rana]

The first of the spring rhubarb is so irresistable I don't see how you can not pick it. I've been picking now for 2 weeks and the crowns just keep throwing up more stems.
As long as they don't dry out the crowns will be fine

[Alison Adams]

I was given a big old crown last weekend. I rather haphazardly chopped it into 3, planted 2 pieces in my new garden, each with a few buds on them and gave the other piece away. I didnt really know what to expect, hoped it would establish this year and I would get some to eat next. There are already stalks 2-3 inches long through the soil ! I am amazed and thrilled. I dont suppose I should take much, need it to settle in, but I will have to have a bit, dipped in sugar, I will be age 6 all over again pinching it from the neighbours garden !

[glut]

I have two crowns. One (Timberlay) looks pretty much like yours, and the other (Victoria) is much further behind and only has one tiny leaf. I planted the Timberlay as I had read it was an early. Perhaps that is the type you have Norburger? Now, here is the depth of my ignorance. I have never had fresh rhubarb except that which has occasionally been put in a pie by someone else. Can I eat it without cooking it? (Alison Adams your comment made me think you could?!)