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Rhubarb is a plant grown by braver gardeners who know the wonderful flavor of this unusual and often difficult to find plant. But, a new rhubarb grower may have questions like, “How to tell when rhubarb is ripe?” and “When to harvest rhubarb?” Keep reading to learn more about harvesting rhubarb.
Can I Harvest Rhubarb in September?
Rhubarb is a unique and tasty plant that many home gardeners grow for its tall, red stewing stalks. While most people associate rhubarb harvest with spring, this cold-hardy perennial can often be lightly harvested again in September. But is September too late to pick rhubarb? How can you tell if fall growth is still usable?
In this in-depth guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about extending your rhubarb harvest into the fall months. You’ll learn
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Why rhubarb can rebloom in September
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Signs stalks are still harvestable that late
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Best practices for fall rhubarb picking
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Whether September growth should be removed
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Special care to ready plants for winter
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How to maximize next spring’s yield
Understanding Rhubarb’s Fall Growing Habits
Rhubarb suits cool conditions. So while summer heat sends it into dormancy, the return of moderate fall temperatures can stimulate new stalk growth. Here is the typical seasonal pattern:
Spring – The main harvest window. Stalks are most abundant and tender.
Summer – Heat forces dormancy. Plants should not be harvested June-August.
Fall – Cooler weather resumes growth. Some varieties rebloom for a small, late crop.
While not all rhubarb varieties are fall producers, it’s common to get a small encore harvest in September or even October in some regions. But timing and plant care are key.
Determining If September Stalks Are Usable
It takes a discerning eye to judge if fall rhubarb growth is still worthwhile to pick. Here are signs stalks are likely harvestable:
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Upright, firm stalks that snap cleanly
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Moist, crisp stalk interiors
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No blemishes, scarring or mushiness
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Stalks arise from healthy crowns
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Nearby leaves still green and intact
Conversely, September stalks to avoid show:
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Limp, bendable stalks
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Dry, stringy cores
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Exterior spots, cracks or rotting
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Leaves yellowed or dropped
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Overall diminished crown vigor
Getting to know what desirable versus overaged stalks look like will guide you in determining if fall growth is usable.
Picking Rhubarb in September
When September rhubarb proves worthy of harvest, follow these best practices:
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Gently twist off only largest, healthiest stalks.
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Cut each stalk off at ground level with a sharp knife.
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Never take more than 1/3 of stalks from each plant.
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Stagger picking over 2-3 weeks. Stop at signs of stress.
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Leave smaller, weaker stalks to nourish the plant.
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Always discard poisonous leaves. Only eat stalks.
With care, you can gather just enough good stalks for a seasonal treat without starving the plant going into winter dormancy.
Should You Remove Fall Foliage?
Some gardeners wonder if they should also remove the smaller green foliage growth emerging around the rhubarb crown in fall. It’s best to avoid cutting back fall leaves and stalks for two key reasons:
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Fall growth is needed to replenish the plant’s energy reserves.
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Removing it can weaken the plant over winter.
Leave all late season rhubarb growth intact to ensure winter survival and vigorous regrowth next season.
Caring for Rhubarb in Fall
Rhubarb needs special care as cold weather approaches. Follow these tips to ready it for winter:
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Stop harvesting once hard frost kills back foliage.
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Leave dead leaves and stalks over winter to insulate the crown.
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Apply mulch around the base for extra insulation if your climate is very cold.
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Fertilize with compost or manure in early fall to feed next year’s stalks.
Meeting its late season care needs will ensure your rhubarb thrives for years to come.
Reviving Overharvested Rhubarb Plants
Sometimes repeatedly harvesting both spring and fall stalks weakens rhubarb over time. Here’s how to nurse an overpicked plant back to health:
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Avoid harvesting any stalks the next growing season. Let it fully recover.
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Generously fertilize with manure or compost in early spring and midseason.
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Ensure consistent moisture. Reduce other stresses.
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Propagate the variety via division as an insurance policy.
With rest and TLC, even an overtaxed rhubarb plant can make a strong comeback.
Maximizing Future Yield
A few added care tips will keep your rhubarb healthy and productive from one year to the next:
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Divide crowded plants every 3-5 years in early spring. Replant vigorous divisions.
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Mulch plants annually with compost to feed the soil.
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Remove competing weeds which rob nutrients and moisture.
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Ensure stalks get 1-2 inches of water weekly if rain is insufficient.
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Prune out any damaged or diseased foliage.
Following best practices for rhubarb’s ongoing care will reward you with bigger harvests.
Enjoying September’s Bounty
While most gardeners limit rhubarb harvest to spring, those in the know can continue gathering its tart stalks into the fall. A little understanding of the plant’s seasonal rhythms allows you to take advantage of its cold-hardy nature and stretch out your enjoyment of rhubarb’s pucker-inducing flavor. Maintain your patch with care, and you’ll be cooking up fall treats like rhubarb sauce, jam and pies!
Calendar of fall raspberry care
Starting now, for those who have fall raspberry varieties, and proceeding through the winter into next year.
September, October: Weed shallowly. Harvest and enjoy. Water well.
November, December, January: Cut all canes to the ground after the leaves drop. Weed, compost and mulch the beds. (We have used the tops from our November–harvest storage carrots.) Dig up rogue canes from the aisles, maintaining a 12-15” (30-35cm) bed width. Order new plants if needed.
February, March: Prepare future new beds. Plant new canes with compost (not artificial fertilizer, which is too fast-acting), keeping the roots damp as you work. Make the planting holes big enough to allow the roots to spread out. Set the canes an inch (2.5cm) lower in the soil than they were in the nursery or pots. Firm the soil thoroughly around the roots, by stepping on it. Roots will die if they are in air pockets. Water in well. Spread organic mulch around the planted canes to keep the soil damp and deter weeds. Set 5 ft (1.5m) T-posts in pairs across the bed, every 20-25 ft (6-7.5m). Water 2” (5cm) per week as needed. There may be no visible new growth for 4-6 weeks. Existing beds: Weed shallowly. Water. Mow aisles.
April: Weed shallowly. Water. Mow aisles. Set up ropes at heights of 3ft (1m) and 5ft (1.5m). Thin fall raspberry canes to 2” (5cm) apart.
May, June, July, August: Weed shallowly. Water. Mow aisles
Raspberry varieties labelled as “fall-fruiting” are capable of providing two crops each year: a summer crop and then a smaller fall crop. To achieve this, you need to prune them the same way you prune summer-fruiting-only varieties, leaving the newer canes that have not yet fruited, removing only the old fruited canes in late winter or very early spring.
When to Harvest Rhubarb
How to tell when rhubarb is ripe is as easy as walking out to the plant. To be honest, rhubarb is “ripe” all spring and summer. But for the health of the plant, there are certain times that you should make your rhubarb harvest. The best time when to harvest rhubarb is when the stalks of the leaves reach at least 10 inches (25 cm.) long. This will ensure that the plant has established itself well enough for the year to be able to tolerate being harvested. You can take some of the rhubarb stalks earlier than this, but limit your rhubarb harvest to just a few stalks so that you do not kill the plant. Knowing when to harvest rhubarb also means knowing when the season is over. While technically, you can keep harvesting rhubarb until fall, keep in mind that your rhubarb plant needs to store energy for the winter. Significantly slow or stop your rhubarb harvest in late June or early July so that your rhubarb plant can build up energy stores to make it through the winter. Again, it can be picked until the frost, but do so sparingly or you risk killing the plant. Also, if your rhubarb is newly planted, you will want to wait two years before taking a full rhubarb harvest from the plant. This will ensure the plant is sufficiently established.
When to Harvest Rhubarb & How Much of my Rhubarb should I Pick?
FAQ
Is it safe to pick rhubarb in September?
Rhubarb can be harvested lightly in September and October. Watermelons, Asian melons, Asian pears (must ripen on the tree), blackberries, kiwi berries (Actinidia arguta, aka hardy kiwi, Chinese kiwi), muskmelons, muscadine grapes, rhubarb (light harvest).
What is the latest date to pick rhubarb?
Rhubarb can be picked whenever it looks ripe (long stems, dark red in colour, streaked green with fully-unfurled leaves) until around august, when it’s best …Feb 18, 2018
How late in the fall can you pick rhubarb?
While technically, you can keep harvesting rhubarb until fall, keep in mind that your rhubarb plant needs to store energy for the winter. Significantly slow or stop your rhubarb harvest in late June or early July so that your rhubarb plant can build up energy stores to make it through the winter.
Is rhubarb safe to eat in the fall?
Turns out that that is just not true. Rhubarb stalks taste best when they are harvested and used in the spring and early summer, but they are safe to eat in the later summer months as well. the website gave a couple of reasons why people might not want to eat them in those months though:
When should you stop harvesting rhubarb?
It is generally recommended that home gardeners stop harvesting rhubarb in early to mid-June. Continued harvest through the summer months can weaken the plants and reduce the yield and quality of next year’s crop. The rhubarb stalks may become somewhat woody by mid-summer, but they don’t become poisonous. When is rhubarb ripe?
When is rhubarb ripe?
How to tell when rhubarb is ripe is as easy as walking out to the plant. To be honest, rhubarb is “ripe” all spring and summer. But for the health of the plant, there are certain times that you should make your rhubarb harvest. When the leaf stalks are at least 10 inches (25 cm) long is the best time to pick rhubarb. ) long.
Is it OK to harvest rhubarb in the fall?
Although the stems remain edible and tasty through summer, it’s best to stop harvesting by June, or at least only take a few stalks after then, so you don’t over-harvest and weaken the plant. To harvest, hold the stalk at the base and ease it out of the ground – try to avoid snapping it off. Is rhubarb still good to pick in the fall?
How do you harvest September rhubarb?
When September rhubarb proves harvestable, employ these best practices: Gently twist and pull only largest, healthiest stalks from outer portions of the plant. Use a sharp knife to cut each stalk at its base rather than breaking it off. Take no more than 1/3 of stalks from each plant. Never harvest all at once.
Does rhubarb grow in September?
Fall – Cooler weather awakens dormant plants. Usable stalks often reemerge September into fall. So while rhubarb is at peak harvest in spring, you shouldn’t disregard your rhubarb patch come September! It takes an experienced eye to determine if a rhubarb plant has viable stalks in September.
Do rhubarb stalks reemerge in September?
Usable stalks often reemerge September into fall. So while rhubarb is at peak harvest in spring, you shouldn’t disregard your rhubarb patch come September! It takes an experienced eye to determine if a rhubarb plant has viable stalks in September. Here are telling signs stalks are still harvestable: