New rhubarb

[Mairzydotes]

We called on a friend today who has a very healthy looking bed of rhubarb, which certainly looks fit to eat, but he has been told you should not pick and eat in the first year.
Is this right?
I would have said, from looking at it, that it is just about perfect!
Mairzeydotes

[cove]

if that was true then all the farms who rear rhubarb for profit will be standing huge loses every first crop.

[cove]

btw, I know nothing of growing rhubarb, only speaking from common sense. although if your friend is right my point won't be much sense.

[shylock73]

I`ve grown it for the past 30 years and have split it up into smaller roots every four years and have never bothered about not picking for the first year, just add plenty of muck during the winter months when it is dormant and water well when in full growth. I always leave a few sticks to die back at the end of the season to help feed it through the winter months. HTH`s

[buildersmate]

It weakens the plant whilst it is still trying to get established. That's the only reason. One can get away with it, as Shylock obviously does.

[derrynoose]

Rhubarb will perform better longterm if left untouched in the first year. Flower stems may appear in the first year and these should be cut off as soon as possible.