No, just let them die down on their own -- they will provide energy to the roots as they do.

In your zone, I would imagine that you would need to DEEPLY mulch the plant to get it to survive the winter, right?

Ditto denninmi, don't cut back the stalks.

I'm quite surprised that you're planting in the fall. I'm one zone warmer than you and I wouldn't plant any sort of veggie now. You're moderated by the ocean and we're land-locked, though, so I could be way off.

I don't need to mulch our rhubarb at all over winter, which is probably quite similar to yours for the most part. Some years I leave all the dead stalks and leaves in place over the crown and some years I clear them away in the fall. It doesn't seem to matter to the plants at all; they're always the first things up in the spring. I'm talking established plants... your newbie might need some help for the first few seasons. All the best!

{{gwi:70753}}

Thanks for the responses. In answer to denninmi, yes I will deeply mulch.

In response to macky77 - I am in Fairbanks and not moderated by the ocean but rather land locked and zone 1. Surprisingly, we can plant some things in the fall. Rhubarb does extremely well in my area & actually gets out of hand.

One more question. I have read that you should not harvest the 1st year. Since I used a plant with stalks this fall, do I need to skip harvesting any stalks next spring/summer?

Well, I know diddly squat about Alaska gardening, so I was just speculating.

You can probably do a light harvest next year, especially if you be sure to feed the plant. Rhubarb is a glutton and responds well to fertilizer.

Thanks again for the help!

Do a Google search for ~ growing rhubarb in alaska site:.edu ~. UAF has a PDF bulletin, you may have to use the quick view. CES has a publication and something or somebody called 'nodak' has something about rhubarb.

Cooperative Extension Service : Details

Questions On Rhubarb

Here is a link that might be useful: Growing rhubarb in Alaska

Thanks for the link. I had actually found this earlier but couldn't open but the quick view worked.