Key takeaways
- Stop picking outdoor rhubarb by the end of June, around the longest day
- The leaves you leave behind feed the crown for next year's crop
- Take no more than about half the stalks at any one picking
- Twist and pull stalks from the base rather than cutting them
- Don't pick at all in the first year, and only lightly in the second
- Rhubarb leaves are poisonous to people and pets, so compost them
Stop picking outdoor rhubarb by the end of June. The longest day, around 21 June, is the traditional cut-off. After that, leave the plant alone so its leaves can feed the crown and power next spring’s crop.
That one habit is the difference between a rhubarb patch that crops happily for years and one that fades. Below you’ll find why the date matters, how to pick properly, and what to do once you’ve stopped.
When to stop picking rhubarb in the UK
Stop pulling outdoor rhubarb around mid to late June, and treat the end of June as your firm finish. That gives most crowns a good two to three months of picking from spring.
Young crowns that are only just into their third year benefit from an earlier stop. Big, well-established plants can cope with a pull or two right at the end of June.
Everything after that stays on the plant. The stalks you leave aren’t wasted. Their leaves are what rebuild the crown for next year.
Why you stop harvesting rhubarb after midsummer
Rhubarb is a perennial that stores its energy in a thick underground crown. In spring the crown uses that store to push up stalks. Through summer and autumn, the leaves make food and send it back down to refill the crown.
Pick past midsummer and you interrupt that refill. The crown goes into winter low on energy and sends up fewer, thinner stalks next spring. Keep it up for a few years and the plant gradually runs down.
The RHS guide to growing rhubarb gives the same advice: stop harvesting after June so the plant can recover.
Leave the leaves to grow all summer. They make the food that the crown stores for next spring.
Is late-season rhubarb worth eating?
Late rhubarb is safe to eat, but it’s rarely as good. As summer goes on, the stalks tend to get thinner, greener and tougher, with a stringy skin.
So the plant is telling you to stop just as the quality falls away. You lose very little by leaving the late stalks. The fat, red stalks of April, May and June are the ones worth having.
Early stalks are thick and red. Late ones are thin, green and tough, so they’re best left on the plant.
Forced, maincrop and late rhubarb compared
There are three times you might pick rhubarb. This table shows what each gives you and what it costs the plant.
| Harvest | When | Stalks | Effect on the crown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forced, under a pot or forcer | Late winter to early spring | Pale pink, tender and sweet | Hard on the plant. Don’t force the same crown two years running |
| Maincrop, outdoors | April to June | Thick, red and full of flavour | Fine if you stop by the end of June |
| Late season | July onwards | Thin, green and tough | Weakens next year’s crop. Best left alone |
Forcing means covering a crown in late winter to get early, pale stalks. Only force a strong, well-established crown, and don’t pick it again for the rest of that year. The forcing guide linked at the end explains how.
Forced rhubarb is pale, sweet and weeks early. Give that crown the rest of the year off to recover.
The rhubarb year month by month
This calendar shows what to do with an established rhubarb crown through the year.
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January to February | Cover a strong crown to force it, if you want early stalks. Mulch other crowns |
| March | Forced stalks ready. Outdoor stalks start to appear |
| April to May | Main picking season. Take no more than half the stalks at a time |
| June | Last picking. Stop by the end of the month |
| July to August | Leave the plant alone. Water in long dry spells. Remove any flower stalks |
| September to October | Leave the leaves to die back naturally |
| November to December | Clear away dead leaves. Mulch around, not over, the crown. Plant or divide crowns while dormant |
How to pick rhubarb stalks correctly
How you pick matters as much as when. Done right, you take the stalk and nothing else. Done wrong, you leave a stump that can rot.
- Pick from the outside of the clump. Take the biggest, reddest stalks first and leave the young ones in the middle.
- Grip the stalk low down, near where it joins the crown.
- Twist and pull in one smooth movement. It should come away cleanly from the base.
- Don’t cut with a knife. A cut leaves a stump that can rot back into the crown.
- Take no more than about half the stalks at one picking, so the plant keeps plenty of leaves.
Twist the leaf off in the garden and pop it on the compost heap. That way only the stalks come into the kitchen. A glut freezes well, and our guide to freezing fruit shows how.
Grip low, then twist and pull. The stalk comes away cleanly, with no stump left to rot.
Removing rhubarb flower stalks
A thick flower stalk shooting up from the middle of the plant is called bolting. It drains energy the crown needs, so remove it as soon as you spot it. Cut or snap it off at the base.
Flowering is more common on old, stressed or dry plants. If a crown flowers every year, it may be time to lift and divide it in winter. Our guide to rhubarb problems covers bolting, crown rot and other troubles.
Snap off flower stalks at the base as soon as they appear, so the plant’s energy goes back into the crown.
What to do after you stop picking rhubarb
Once you’ve stopped, help the crown build up strength. It needs very little.
- Water in dry spells. Rhubarb is thirsty. A good soak once a week in a long dry spell is better than a daily splash.
- Mulch. Spread a thick layer of well-rotted manure or garden compost around the plant in autumn or late winter. Keep it off the crown itself, which can rot if buried.
- Leave the leaves. Let them die back naturally in autumn, then clear them away.
A thick mulch of well-rotted manure feeds a rested crown. Keep it clear of the crown itself.
Are rhubarb leaves poisonous?
Yes. Rhubarb leaves contain oxalic acid and are poisonous to eat. Only the stalks are edible.
Warning: Rhubarb leaves are also harmful to dogs, cats and other pets. Don’t leave piles of leaves where pets can chew them.
The leaves are fine on the compost heap. They rot down like any other leaves and don’t harm the compost.
Picking a newly planted rhubarb crown
A new crown needs time to settle in before you pick it hard.
- Year one: don’t pick anything. The plant needs every leaf to build its roots.
- Year two: take just a few stalks, and stop early.
- Year three onwards: pick normally, and stop by the end of June.
Plant dormant crowns between autumn and early spring, in rich soil in a sunny spot. For the full planting method, see our guide on how to grow rhubarb. Rhubarb is one of the easiest perennial vegetables you can grow.
Common rhubarb picking mistakes
These are the slips that weaken a rhubarb plant over time.
- Picking all summer. The crown never gets the chance to refill. Stop by the end of June.
- Stripping the plant bare. Leave at least half the stalks every time.
- Cutting the stalks. Twist and pull instead.
- Picking a new crown too soon. Wait until the second year, and go gently.
- Leaving flower stalks on. Remove them as soon as they appear.
Find more fruit and veg guides on our growing hub.
Frequently asked questions
When should you stop picking rhubarb?
Stop picking outdoor rhubarb by the end of June. The longest day, around 21 June, is the traditional cut-off. After that, leave every stalk on the plant.
Why do you stop harvesting rhubarb after June?
The plant needs its leaves to build up the crown for next spring. If you keep picking, the crown weakens and next year’s stalks are thinner and fewer.
Can you eat rhubarb in July and August?
Yes, late rhubarb is safe to eat, but it’s usually tougher and less tasty. Picking it also weakens the plant, so it’s best left alone.
Should you cut or pull rhubarb stalks?
Pull them, don’t cut. Grip the stalk low down, twist and pull it away from the crown. A cut leaves a stump that can rot.
Can you pick rhubarb in the first year?
No, leave a new crown alone in its first year. Take just a few stalks in year two, then pick normally from year three.
Are rhubarb leaves poisonous?
Yes, rhubarb leaves are poisonous and should never be eaten. They’re also harmful to dogs and cats. The leaves are fine on the compost heap.
What should I do if my rhubarb flowers?
Snap off the flower stalk at the base as soon as you see it. Flowering uses up energy the crown needs.
Want earlier stalks next year? Read our guide to forcing crops for earlier harvests to get pink rhubarb in late winter.
Our team produces practical UK gardening guidance from source research, contributor records and established horticultural practice. Editorial standards are overseen by Matt W.
