Rhubarb is easy to care for and grows both in the garden and on the balcony. However, there are some important tips on how to best harvest rhubarb.
Rhubarb originally comes from the mountainous regions of China, Mongolia and Siberia. There it was used primarily as a medicinal plant. According to the
Bavarian State Institute for Viticulture and Horticulture,
it only came to Central Europe in the 18th century. The sour-tasting plant has been cultivated in Germany since around 1840: one of the first and largest growing areas was near Hamburg. Rhubarb belongs to the knotweed family and is therefore a vegetable. Whether as a cake, compote or dessert - in the kitchen it is often prepared with sugar, which is why many people mistakenly classify it as fruit. The plant is just as suitable for gardening beginners as it is for professionals: it is easy to grow both in the garden and in raised beds (promotional link), is very easy to care for and can stay in the same location for up to ten years. Rhubarb also survives harsh winters with low temperatures without any problems.
How to harvest rhubarb correctly
Depending on the climatic conditions, you can harvest your rhubarb from March or April. You can recognize ripe stalks by the fact that the surface is smooth - and no longer wavy. The leaves should also be fully and broadly unfolded. However, just let the plant grow until it is the size you want. Important: Do not harvest until a year or two after you plant the shrub. This will give it enough time to properly root itself in the soil. If you harvest too early, the plant may die. Harvesting too much rhubarb will also weaken the bush. As a rule of thumb: never remove more than half of the poles.
How you harvest your rhubarb is also crucial. The correct procedure: Loosen the poles from the stalk by twisting them slightly. Under no circumstances should you use a knife. This can cause the bush to begin to rot. If your rhubarb produces flowers during harvest time, it is harmless. However, it is advisable to remove the flowers directly as they deprive the plant of important energy. You can still eat the sticks. What you can't eat are the leaves of the shrub. Oxalic acid is present in high concentrations in these.
You can find even more exciting garden topics in the regular newsletter from our partner 24garten.de.
How long can you harvest rhubarb – and why?
Oxalic acid is the reason why rhubarb is only harvested and consumed until St. John's Day, June 24th. This is an old farmer's rule and of course you cannot fix the harvest time on exactly one day. What is true, however, is that oxalic acid increases over the course of the season. In addition, the plant needs enough time to regenerate after harvesting. Since the second growth spurt begins at the end of June, the shrub needs a rest period beforehand.
Harvesting rhubarb: All the important information at a glance
The harvest season begins in March or April – and ends around June 24th.
You can recognize ripe stalks by their smooth surface.
Only a year or two after you plant your rhubarb will it be rooted deeply enough to survive the harvest.
Carefully twist the poles out of the bush.
Do not harvest more than half of the rhubarb.
Remove flowers if they form during harvest season.
The leaves of the plant are not edible.
After harvesting, it is recommended to process the rhubarb within the next 24 hours. The sticks will last about three to four days in the refrigerator.