How do you know when the right time is to pick rhubarb?

Answer 1

The leaves should be fully open. It is one of the earliest fruits to ripen in the garden. Check the plants as they come up and after some time the growth will slow - it's then OK to pick. Generally, I pick the largest leafed stalks first - if you pick often, the stalks don't get a chance to get too stringy. Pull the stalks from the bottom rather than cutting them. They will snap off. One word of caution: the leaves contain calcium oxalate which is toxic - trim the leaves off from the stem side, after picking. Don't eat the leaves! Try strawberry rhubarb pie - my favorite!
One additional note: Leave several stalks on each plant as the production slows down so as to permit those stalks to strengthen the roots for the next season ( the same way one does for asparagus).

Answer 2

Oh my GOSH, that person just pulls it up!!!! -- not cutting the stalks. My my what a waste.
Rhubarb leaves contain poisonous substances. Rhubarb leaf poisoning is most often caused by oxalic acid, a corrosive and nephrotoxic acid that is abundantly present in many plants. The LD50 for pure oxalic acid is predicted to be about 375 mg/kg body weight, or about 25 g for a 65 kg (~140 lb) human. While the oxalic acid content of rhubarb leaves can vary, it averages about 0.5%, so a rather unlikely five kilograms of the extremely sour leaves would have to be consumed to reach an LD50 dose.

Anyway, all you ever wanted to know about wonderful rhubarb is at your finger tips when you key-in rhubarb into your search engine. Walla!!!! All kinds of stuff about this plant such as cultural, harvesting, and recipes. Ummmm Ummmm!!
Cheers

Answer 3

When it's about 1 1/2 feet tall and taller. It isn't really a huge deal when you pick it because it doesn't need to get "ripe" or anything. If you pick it smaller then you need more for a recipe. If you pick it when it's big then you just wind up with a whole bunch. I like to pick mine on the medium/small size .. it's more tender. The big stuff gets stringy. I pull my rhubarb to...I don't cut it with a knife.

Answer 4

Depends where you live, In England where I live I could pick on my allotment from late Feb but it a dustbin or similar is put over the plant early to 'force' it then it will be ready earlier but this tenmds to ruin the plant for later years. Still enjoy, nothing like freshly picked fruit and veg

Answer 5

i think its when the flowers at the top of theleaves have fallen off...mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm rhubarb and custard

Answer 6

i think in August or September i use to eat them raw and it,s sour and if you dip it in sugar it gets the taste away and it taste better without the sour taste.

Answer 7

i cut it when it's good and red....but i taste the first one to make sure it's sweet...

Answer 8

- eeeewwww,