Rhubarb

[john1066]

Rhubarb is now inedible....I have plenty of thick stems and very large leaves! Do I cut them down or leave them to deteriorate naturally for next years crop?

[Buenchico]

From the website of the Royal Horticultural Society:
"Allow the foliage to die back naturally in autumn then cut away the old leaves to expose the growing points to winter cold. There is no harm in adding these leaves to the compost heap as the poisonous oxalic acid contained in them breaks down during decomposition".

Source:
http://apps.rhs.org.u.../Profile.aspx?pid=544

Chris

[john1066]

Thanks Buenchico....Excellent answer...

[modeller]

As long as you keep picking you should be able to pick to the end of Sept.
If you don't pick it will stop producing new stems and will be left with big thick ones. Don't cut them , pull them .

[johnk]

Let it die down and give it a good feed of compost or manure in the winter.