My rhubarb plants were doing well until the nasty frosts in KY last week. Help! What to do next?

Question

Can we expect new growth to be vigorous? Shall I cut off the withered ones? Or leave them intact? I am an organic gardener so I will not be using anything but compost and mulch (which surrounded it nicely and would have protected it I thought!!, but these were horrendous April frosts 3 in a row. ) Ah well. Luck of the draw!

Answer 1

I grow two types of rhubarb that have been in my family for over 100 years. Several times, they have been caught by late freezes. I always cut the damaged stalks off at ground level. New stalks soon begin growing as if nothing happened. I am guessing that your plants should do the same.

By the way, I am also in Kentucky.

Good luck with your rhubarb.

Answer 2

I had heard that when a rhubarb freezes, it becomes poisonous because of a natural insecticide in the leaves. You have to cut it down and wait for regrowth. Maybe I'm being anal, but it might be worth checking into.

Answer 3

I grow rhubarb in Michigan. It does the same thing every year. Just let it grow. Mine has never croaked. It just gets bigger. Take off the dead leaves i f you want to, no matter. It will just become part of the compost.