Do I cut my Rhubarb year 1

[morverngirl]

Just planted my rhubarb this year and although I've been told not to eat it ,do I leave it to die down naturally or cut and chuck.

[bramble]

No, don't cut it, just leave it to grow and develop naturally.
Next year you will be able to pull the sticks and hopefully have a crop.
For the first year its better to let it grow and develop a good root system.

[quark1]

If it is your intention to 'cut and chuck' why not cut and eat? - rhubarb doesn't have to be this lurid pink stuff which is forced and costs a small fortune in the supermarkets. Many recipes on here for even small quantities of stems - one I even 'invented' myself - take a look.

If your plant has established well I, personally, would eat anything I pulled - even from first year crowns - but don't go mad/greedy and leave a fair few behind for the plant to bulk up for the years ahead. Discard dead material into your composter at the end of the season. If you're talking first year from seed, then I scarcely imagine the stems would be thincker than a matchstick!

[binley100]

Leave it to grow and die down naturally. Give it a good feed of compost or manure in the winter . You will be able to pull some sticks next year, but always leave about 4 or 5 on it and don't pull any after July as it will need to conserve energy again.

[rana]

If it was a reasonable sized crown and you planted it in the autumn, cropping a few sticks now won't do any harm but if you planted it more recently then it would be best to wait till next spring.

[sarraceniac]

Leave it to grow and die down naturally. Give it a good feed of compost or manure in the winter . You will be able to pull some sticks next year, but always leave about 4 or 5 on it and don't pull any after July as it will need to conserve energy again.

Agree 100% Binley. I made the mistake last year of forcing some rhubarb that had only been in for 2 years. Well, it looked very healthy and was growing like mad. It isn't looking healthy this year. I reckon it should be recovered by 2015. Rhubarb crops profusely but has to be nurtured.

[binley100]

If you force it you need to coddle it for the next year to build its energy up again

[coreopsis]

I replanted my rhubarb last year around June(not recommended as it should be done when it's dormant,Novemberish).Well cared after,watered when needed,plenty of fresh compost.
This year I scattered a little bit of dried fresh manure around the base(not too much and not too close to the plant) and kept watering.I'm rewarded with several crowns much bigger than last year.
I'd agree to not to "abuse" your rhubarb-my neighbour has used nearly all big stalks last year and this year is left with smallish plant.

[chris]

I planted mine a month or two ago (bargain from g/c) - when planting it I lost half the roots as they just snapped off. Not expecting anything from it next year, so going to leave it to grow for this year and next too before I start to pull from it.