New Gardener

craftygran

I planted Rhubarb about a month ago and have quite a few large stalks. I read somewhere that you shouldn't pick it the first year but it seems a same to let it go to waste. Is this correct or can I pick it now.

trollopscarletwoman

craftygran wrote: »

I planted Rhubarb about a month ago and have quite a few large stalks. I read somewhere that you shouldn't pick it the first year but it seems a same to let it go to waste. Is this correct or can I pick it now.

To the best of my knowledge you shouldn't pick it the first year.

Neither should you force it every year.

Farway

craftygran wrote: »

I planted Rhubarb about a month ago and have quite a few large stalks. I read somewhere that you shouldn't pick it the first year but it seems a same to let it go to waste. Is this correct or can I pick it now.

No, do not pick it, or force it, let it settle in first year

Mojisola

For the first year, it's best to let the plant keep all its stems and leaves so that they can send energy down into the root and build it up for future years.

If you really can't wait, have a couple of stems now but make sure the plant has plenty of food and water for the rest of season so that it can build up the root.

craftygran

Thanks for the advice, so when winter comes do I just leave it alone or should I be doing anything to it. Also I planted a gooseberry bush last year which to my surprise has a small amount of fruit on but something is eating all the leaves, I can't see anything on the plant, any ideas what I can do.

theoretica

Could well be gooseberry sawfly - look for tiny caterpillars with black heads on the edges of leaves. SO long as the plant isn't being absolutely stripped it isn't too serious. In season I try to pick them off most evenings.

Mojisola

craftygran wrote: »

Thanks for the advice, so when winter comes do I just leave it alone or should I be doing anything to it.

Rhubarb likes a lot of food - if you can mulch round it with manure or compost, it will do well.

It will die down over the winter; you don't have to do anything to it.

craftygran

Thanks again for the Rhubarb advice. I can't see ant caterpillers but it is nearly stripped so is there anything I can do

Farway

craftygran wrote: »

Thanks again for the Rhubarb advice. I can't see ant caterpillers but it is nearly stripped so is there anything I can do

Well you could spray, but from what I heard on Gardeners' Question time, it may look unsightly, but seems to do no harm to crop or bush

So, spray or ignore, your choice

mrbadexample

craftygran wrote: »

Thanks again for the Rhubarb advice. I can't see ant caterpillers but it is nearly stripped so is there anything I can do

Look harder! They'll be there. If you see little black specks on the leaves, that's their faeces, so look on the leaf above and you'll see them.

craftygran

well, looked again with my glasses on and they are there. Do I just use any caterpiler spray?