My family loves rhubarb sauce, I freeze it so I have some all year.Sure is good.

Mine isn't ready yet, but will be soon. It freezes very well, and it is nice to just grab a bag in the winter time...makes spring a possibility. It makes a great pie.

We do. I made my husband his favorite Rhubarb Custard Pie. It was gone in two days. LOL

Yum! Can't wait for the rhubarb here!
A very generous girl that I met on Freecycle offers me her rhubarb whenever I want it.
I love Rhubarb Custard Pie, and my muffins, and just plain stewed...no strawberries in it though. We like it plain.

Just did my third cutting yesterday. Freeze as much as we can.

I'm hoping to get some rhubarb this year. Haven't had a crop to pick for two years. And my backup (my neighbors) hasn't been much better. Haven't had any rhubarb bread in a long time and I've been nearly drooling for it but can't get myself to buy rhubarb. Just one of those things!

Rhubarb in town is selling for $2.49 a pound.

Sue

My neighbors' rhubarb should be ready in May. They have more than they can use. I love to make rhubard crisps and pies. Last year I made sour cherry/rhubarb pies. I need to freeze some this year.

I love the rhubarb sauce they serve in a little bowl at Knott's Berry Farm. But I have not been able to duplicate it. Does anyone have a good recipe for it?

Is rhubarb a winter crop?

I planted by rhubarb in January and then had to move it to a different location. It is thriving but I was told not to harvest any stalks until next year.
I will be glad when it is ready to use....love it!

My rhubarb plant is in it's second year, but it grew a lot since it was planted late last summer.

I have noticed that some of you have mentioned that you "CUT" your rhubarb. I have always known it to be a "PULL" harvesting. Just grab the stem near the bottom and pull and it comes off the root stock.
Does it make a difference if you pull or cut? I am planning to remove just enough to make a small Rhubarb Pudding Cake this year, so I wonder if cutting might be better since I am not waiting till next year. I have already used up the last of the rhubarb in the freezer.

Yes, I do think I read it is better to pull it.

Sue

Definitely pull it Jud.
The plant also needs lots of water. It keeps on growing and lasts if it gets lots to drink.

Do not harvest the plant in the first year as the nutrients produced by the leaves should be channeled back into the roots to ensure a strong root system for stem production in the following years growth. In the second year harvest a couple of stalks per plant and after that you can harvest as normal.

Pulling it will encourage more growth of stalks. I have several patches of rhubarb and I think I just might have enough to make some bread:)

Stacie

Judy, Here's a couple good sites on rhubarb:

The Rhubarb Compendium
All About Rhubarb

Although I grew up being told that not getting the whole stalk was hard on the plant I know people who harvest only by cutting it at the soil level and they have thriving plants too. I don't think it makes much difference and I find it easier to just get a grip and tug rather than mess with knives.

Now, here's what The Rhubarb Compendium says:
"Harvesting should be delayed until the second year following planting to permit accumulation of root reserve. During the second year, a light harvest may be taken and normal harvests may begin in the third year. Stalks may be clean cut, taking the entire plant at the soil line or harvesting sequentially by pulling the stalks at the prime size over a period of 4-6 weeks. Do not remove more than 2/3 of the fully developed petiole from any plant at harvest. As stalks are cut, leaves are removed and left in the field or they can be composed (see Composting rhubarb leaves).

Select petioles that are bright pink, crisp and free of disease or insect damage. Young, dark pink, smaller diameter petioles are sweeter and more tender than thick, long green ones, but this also depends and the particular variety of Rhubarb. Don't cut the Rhubarb stalks from the plant, but instead snap them off. They will come away quite easily and this is much better for the plant. I grab a stalk right down where it emerges from the ground, and use a sort of rocking, twisting motion. Visualize snapping away a single celery stalk from the bunch. If the stalk is grasped too high it snaps in two. At any given time, harvest less than 1/3 of the stalks from any one plant. Rhubarb may be harvested later but very few stalks should be taken from any one plant."

i'm just waiting for to get warm enough to plant tomatoes, lol...

havn't had any rhubarb in years. it was a staple on the old weight watchers diet (we're talking 1968, lol) and really enjoyed it...