Rhubarb query

[schmeeb123]

Sorry if this has already featured (but I didn't feel like checking over 3000 threads on a dial-up system, not broadband!)
I have a rhubarb plant that I put in three years ago but can't remember the variety. I left it for the first year and last year harvested only a small amount at the end of the season - lovely red stalks. This year though, it has gone 'rampant' and the stalks are still green. They started out promising red at the base when they first appeared but then have gone green. I also took off the spring flowers when they first appeared. Am I just being impatient, or have I damaged the plant by taking off the flowers, and / or can I eat the stalks when they are still green?
Thanks!

[shirlthegirl43]

Hello and welcome to the vine.

You did right taking the flowers off - apparently if left to flower the plant will die. I am pretty sure you can use rhubarb as soon as the stalks are big enough no matter what the colour. Lucky you having it go rampant - mine doesn't seem to want to grow.

[Nicos]

Well...some varieties are green and some are red!!!!
Maybe the green ones start off red/blushed????
It doesn't affect how sweet they are though!!!
....I have some stalks which are 3' long with 1m square leaves...and they don't need much sugar at all!!! ( so says someone who puts sugar on most fruit!!)

Oh...and welcome to the Vine!!!

ps...can you put your rough location on your profile so we know which continent you are on!!!???

[percy charlie]

you can eat stalks wether green or red but they shouldnt be harvested until after the leaf has fully emerged and is no longer looking really crinkly. if the crown has grown really large it will need spliting (just chop it in half or 3 with a spade) this can also help stop flowering as flowering is detrimental to the plant. i have 5 pots of rhubarb weve eaten all the usuable sized sticks so trying to obtain some more of a friend, who has 50 rhubarb plants.

[TrulyGreen]

I've asked this question before but still a bit bemused. Are rhubarb leaves supposed to have red in them. Mine have a sort of pink edge to them (Timperly) ....not sure if I should eat them or not!!

[rustylady]

I've asked this question before but still a bit bemused. Are rhubarb leaves supposed to have red in them. Mine have a sort of pink edge to them (Timperly) ....not sure if I should eat them or not!!

You should NEVER, NEVER EVER, eat rhubarb leaves. You pull the stems, remove the leaves, and eat the stalks (cooked)

[Snadger]

You should NEVER, NEVER EVER, eat rhubarb leaves. You pull the stems, remove the leaves, and eat the stalks (cooked)

Or raw!

The leaves have oxalic acid in them! Once the plant starts to wain the oxalic acid travels back down the stalks in the Autumn methinks so it's also inadvisable to eat 'old' rhubarb stalks. Crop them when they are young, preferably blanched to give a cleaner longer (and I think tastier) stalk!

[percy charlie]

leaves are poisionous cant be eaten unless you have a death wish for those who do rhubarb tea anyone?

[TrulyGreen]

oops sorry I think you misunderstood me ....I meant is it Ok to eat the rhubarb stalks if the leaves have pink in them rather than being all green.....does that make sense?? Not planing to eat the leaves.

[percy charlie]

think so we have and still here, i dont know what variety mine are though