is the rhubarb season finished?

[Scottishnewbie]

i've just been offered some but i thought the season was long over....i'm in fife, scotland (east coast just south of dundee).....

any thoughts?

[rustylady]

It's still edible, but most of us are letting our plants build up their reserves for next year by not picking any more stems.

[Flummery]

It get more acidic as the season progressses though.

[northepaul]

Its rather annoying though isnt it?
All spring/early summer, mine was very iffy - spindly and not thriving, then one of next doors cats jumped onto the plant, & broke some of the larger stems (which I picked off). From then on, its been going great guns....only now we cant pick any....

[Scottishnewbie]

that's what i thought, but just wanted to check - many thanks

[chris]

What happens to the plant? I planted a crown, and it's grown massive now.. planted back in March I think, can't really remember. Do the stems/leaves just die off, and once that happens just decard them, or do I leave it to its own ?

[rustylady]

Once the stems and leaves have died back pick up the remains and put them on your compost heap.

[chris]

Thank you

[broadway]

I thought it was poisonous after July

[toastie]

My Timperley Early plants leaves are just starting to die. As the crown was only three years old this summer, only picked until the end of July. Over the winter months this plant, along with my other one year crowns, will be covered in manure and, hopefully, they will all bear lots of fruit next year.

[rustylady]

I thought it was poisonous after July

No, it's not poisonous - just quite acidic. The leaves are the only part of the plant that are classed as poisonous. Mind you they don't to harm snails.

[broadway]

No, it's not poisonous - just quite acidic. The leaves are the only part of the plant that are classed as poisonous. Mind you they don't to harm snails.

Thanks RL,

Have been moaning to MRS B re how good the rhubarb loos at the moment, shame we can't pick it

[grannymem]

Oh dear! I picked some earlier this week (left plenty of leaves on the plants) and everyone said how good the crumble was (I don't like rhubarb very much anyway). The family all look well and no obvious side effects but have I ruined our prospects for good rhubarb next year?

[Flummery]

Oh dear! I picked some earlier this week (left plenty of leaves on the plants) and everyone said how good the crumble was (I don't like rhubarb very much anyway). The family all look well and no obvious side effects but have I ruined our prospects for good rhubarb next year?

No, the odd picking won't hurt. My dad actually managed to kills his rhubarb he used to pick it till the frost finished it off - every year! Eventually it just gave up!

[BUFFS]

we pulled all the biggest stems yesterday,left all the medium/small ones,put some chicken pellets on and will add home made compost end of sept,sets it up for next year,have over 40 containers in freezer from the 14 crowns (inherited when we moved in,was never going to dig them up,got rid of most of the other stuff though),i bet youre feeling sorry for me now