Can I still harvest rhubarb?

[Curlykale]

I planted 3 rhubarb crowns early last year, put loads of manure around them over the winter and picked several stalks off them earlier this summer. The plants weren't very big and I think I had read somewhere (maybe on here?) that you shouldn't pick too much in the first year, so I thought I would leave them to build up reserves for next year.

But today when I went to the lottie they seem to have grown overnight and are now all enormous with dozens of huge stalks.

Is it ok to still pick it? Or should I leave it now until next year? If it is ok to pick, what is the best way to freeze rhubarb?

[Aberdeenplotter]

If you have dozens of stalks, then taking a few for the kitchen won't do any harm

[mrscorpio]

I think my wife just washes it then chops it into chunks and freezes it in bags. (enough for a crumble in each bag as it sticks together)

[Loudbarker1]

If it's the first year I'd still leave them. More leaves means more energy into the roots to build up for next year and beyond. They might be pretty stringy as well.

[sewer rat]

This is also dependent on the size and age of the crown you planted - was it bought from a garden centre or was it gifted by a fellow grower. I had three crowns of my own and was gifted a further 27 (yes, 27!!), and these were all mature crowns that were cropeed in their first year with me and have gone from strength to strength since then.
My original 3 crowns are now resident in the tunnel and supply me with stalks from April through to October -all good big long red ones too!!

[Curlykale]

Thanks for all your replies. Sewer rat, the crowns were bought from Marshalls if I remember correctly.

Another question - I went to pick a couple (not too many) of the stalks today, and there were some strange blobs of clear jelly-like substance on some of them. Can anyone tell me what it could be, and if it's anything I should worry about?

[BUFFS]

thanks for all your replies. Sewer rat, the crowns were bought from marshalls if i remember correctly.

Another question - i went to pick a couple (not too many) of the stalks today, and there were some strange blobs of clear jelly-like substance on some of them. Can anyone tell me what it could be, and if it's anything i should worry about?

thats just juice from the plant,so dont worry,i have 14 crowns and after the second year i crop until late august,then put loads of own compost over the area,to build them up for next year,it is my favourite pud bar none...

[HeyWayne]

Mine have gone all woody - I think lack of water is responsible for that (though I am ultimately responsible of course).

[BUFFS]

Mine have gone all woody - I think lack of water is responsible for that (though I am ultimately responsible of course).

pull them all now and then get some feed onto them and if you have a sandy soil ,then a good mulch around each plant to build them up,if you cant get local manure then a bag of that composted horse manure will do a lot of good..