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22 Jun 16 Alan (Australia - temperate climate)

My dad was a market gardener in England all his life. He told me they never "pulled" rhubarb after 1st June. The plant needed its leaves to build up root growth. This kept the plant healthy for next year. I suggest growing enough plants so you don't feel a need to "strip the plant bare" but only take a few stems from each plant. Here in southern Tasmania I plant to not harvest too late and will allow the plant to make full recovery before autumn sets in. Nutrients will then have time to drain back into roots before winter sets in.

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27 Oct 16 Tempest (Australia - temperate climate)

My mum taught me the same. She only had one rhubarb plant, so we'd only ever be able to use about half of the stalks available so we didn't deprive the rhubarb plant of its means to get energy to continue growing. Of course this meant less rhubarb crumble than we would have liked. When I left home, she kindly split her rhubarb crown into several pieces so we each have at least two. I also helped build her rhubarb collection by buying new crowns of different varieties for us both. I think I have about eight or nine just on my own now. Should be plenty to keep us in rhubarb crumble without taking too much energy away from each plant!

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