Your supposed to leave 1 or 2 center stems when you harvest the rhubarb. That way the root will continue to grow, and you will have bigger and stronger plants next year. If you harvest all the stems, the roots could die off.

My rhubarb is now 3 years old, and I'm finally doing thorough picking - ie only leaving 1 or 2 stems. In previous years, I would only harvest half the stems at one time, since I really wanted to develop strong roots and strong plants.

If you notice, the center stems are smaller than the outer stems.

Thank you, Pixie Lou! This is a wealth of information. I think I shall leave the remaining stems for this year, and only harvest the same smallish amount next year, then harvest more the following year being sure to leave a few center stems on each plant. I have a plan now, thanks to you!

You said you only harvested half the stems *at one time* the first couple years. Does that mean that stems will grow back as summer goes on, and another small amount of stems can be harvested later the same year?

The rhubarb seems to do the most growing in early spring.

The first year I harvested once in May. The second year, I harvested twice - once in early May and again in early June. So far this year I did one major cutting about 10 days ago. It looks like I could go out and do another major cutting now. And I'll probably get a third major cutting in early to mid June. Though each time he yield is a bit smaller.

My mom has had rhubarb for a gazillion years. Sometimes I she can get a 4th cutting in mid August.