It’s very early spring and you walk out to your rhubarb patch for the first time since last Fall and gasp: Your rhubarb has already bolted.
Usually when edible plants go to seed it’s the end of those plants, at least for that season. But when it happens to rhubarb there are three things you should know:
#1 Don’t panic. #2 Don’t throw in the towel on your rhubarb. #3 Everything’s going to be just fine.
In fact, discovering rhubarb seed pods and rhubarb flower stalks is perfectly normal.
What Causes Rhubarb To Bolt?
There are a few reasons why your rhubarb plants may be bolting: Seed pods and flower stalks usually don’t grow on younger rhubarb plants but they are common on more mature plants that are at least 3 years old. Our rhubarb plants have been tended by one home owner after the other for the past 100 years! And we get several flower stalks per rhubarb plant. Dividing the crowns of mature plants every few years resets the maturity clock so to speak and reduces flowering.
Another factor that influences the growth of flower stalks is the variety of rhubarb. Some are more likely to flower than others. Old-fashioned varieties such as Victoria and MacDonald continuously produce seed pods whereas other varieties like Canada Red and Valentine are less likely to bolt. These and other modern varieties are bred to flower less often.
Heat can also cause rhubarb to bolt. Rhubarb does best in cool weather and if you’re having a particularly warm Spring it can cause the rhubarb to bolt. Be sure to give your rhubarb plant adequate water.
Other stressors can also cause rhubarb to bolt, such as insect or animal damage to the leaves or a lack of nutrients.
Still, even when all proper care and precautions are taken, it’s very natural for rhubarb plants to bolt.
What Do I Do When My Rhubarb Has Bolted?
Rhubarb flowers are pretty and it’s almost a shame to cut them down. Do you have to? No, they won’t actually harm the plant. Nor will they affect the flavor of the rhubarb.
But they will greatly limit your harvest.
The simple reason is that it takes a plant a lot of energy to produce flowers and seeds and that is energy is being diverted from producing the actual edible stalks. A rhubarb plant that is allowed to go to seed won’t yield as large of a harvest as it otherwise would have.
Ideally you really want to avoid letting your rhubarb plant even get to the point where there are flower stalks.
Initially these long shoots start off as a seed pod at the base of the plant. As soon as you notice these seed pods remove them.
To remove them use a sharp knife at cut them as close to the base of the plant as possible.
If they’re not removed the seeds pods will grow into a long stalk and flower at the top, diverting even more energy away from the production of edible stalks. Remove these flower stalks by cutting them with a sharp, clean knife as close to the base of the plant as possible. Flower stalks are harder to remove than regular stalks are by twisting and pulling so you’ll most likely need to use a knife to cut them.
I’ve heard the flower stalks are edible but remove and discard the flowers and leaves.
Aren’t those pretty?
Rhubarb flowers last a long time. Try putting them in a vase for a more exotic flower arrangement.
With your seed pods and flower stalks removed your rhubarb plant can now focus its energy and producing a delicious and healthy yield of edible rhubarb stalks. Continue checking your plant frequently for new seeds pods and promptly remove them.
Happy harvest!
Ready to eat some rhubarb? Check out these yummy recipes!
Rhubarb Buttermilk Streusel Cake
Strawberry Rhubarb Upside-Down Cake
Oat and Buckwheat Waffles with Rhubarb Compote and Vanilla Cream
Chrisgg says
I have been leaving the flower stems on my rhubarb for many years and have not regretted it. I have a variety that is very early and produces huge leaves and stems something like gunnera. I think it is called something like Champagne Early but not sure. There are always more than enough non-flowering stems that I can eat and I’ve had plenty more to make wine from. The flower stems appear very early on. After three of four appear the plant seems to be satisfied with that. It’s like it says “thank you for letting me flower”! It keeps on producing edible non-flowering stems for the rest of the season while the flowers ripen to produce seed. The seeds turn a beautiful rustic red colour and I have successfully grown rhubarb from the seed and given a plant to a neighbour. So I don’t mind the flowers at all. We get along fine together!
albee says
Very reassuring to hear that Chrisgg, kind of like how god intended it to be :)
anne main says
Loved your comment. It’s just as it should be.
Vickie Anderson says
Your information about the Rhubarb seed pods was extremely helpful! My plants are only in their second year of growth, but one of them has developed a seed pod and I didn’t know enough to recognize the early pod. Thank you again!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
I’m so glad it was helpful, Vickie, thank you!
R. Dorris says
Thanks for all the info. What type of feed to you give Rhubarb? I have some manure that I purchased when I first set my plants out, can I put some of this around the plant as food?
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi, manure is a good choice as is compost. We keep a compost pile and that’s what we mostly use for our rhubarb and veggies.
D Belcher says
Hello All,
I have just been reading all of your comments and found them interesting and informative. I originally planted a single plant which had been given to me by a friend when she had been thinning her own plants out 10 years ago, next to my compost bins. The single plant has now become about 8 to 10 with one this year managing to grow partly inside the compost bin – weird!! One plant this year started to grow what looked like a Triffid which I now see is the flower stalk. I have harvested 3 armfulls of stalks in the last week and given 2 lots away. We have just had a really hot snap here in Kent. I made rhubarb and strawberry crumble for the first time this year but my usual favourite is rhubarb and ginger. Just add a teaspoon of ginger to the crumble mix – yummy. Happy gardening :-)
Paul Hubert says
Someone asked about ways to preserve rhubarb. In my opinion rhubarb and ginger jam is a wonderful contribution to breakfast (with fresh ginger, not ground). Make too much and you’ll have presents for your friends.
Carol Burgess says
This is the first time my Rhubarb plants have flowered! THEY ARE VERY Old and very hot today variety unknown Thanks for your advice
Bev Owen says
I have rhubarb plants in the ground. If I wanted to plant some in pots, on my deck, do they need to be brought in side for the winter? I live in Michigan, so it does get cold!! Also, what varieties have the best flavor? Thanks
Anonymous says
I read in a homesteader type magazine that the flowers themselves could be processed in a manner where they could be eaten. That really is what I am looking for since I’ve never had any trouble growing rhubarb. I was given a recipe for making a rhubarb drink also using raspberry or strawberry Jell-O. Nice.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
I’ve wondered that myself but all sources I’ve read indicate that any part of the plant other than the stalks (which can include the stalks the flowers grow on) are poisonous. I haven’t come across anything any reliable sources that say otherwise. I’m curious though but don’t want to be the first to find out! :)
Allan says
My grandfather always had a large number of rhubarb plants in his garden because he was a home wine maker and favoured rhubarb wine. When he passed on, all his plants were dug up by the landlord. I managed to rescue about 10 of them from the dumpster, along with 2 gooseberry bushes. Sadly only 4 survived in the long run, along with only 1 of the gooseberry bushes. I have no idea of the variety, and I have no use for rhubarb, so I actually allow them to run to flower for decorative purposes.
Hank says
Can you eat (cook) the tube like part of the rhubarb?
Anonymous says
I have the Canadian Red. It took many years to bolt. Last year I dug up the
Root. Under the hose I carefully split the root. It develops as individual
Segments that can be separated. I replanted 5 They all began in spring
As beautiful plants. I can imagine you could have as many plants as you would like this way. Only one has bolted so I will let it do it’s thing. Thanks for info and recipes
trish says
hi can you eat the stalks when the plant is flowering
Anonymous says
Yes,you can eat the leaf stalks, the point is that the flower stalk diverts some of the nutrition value.
Sandra says
Hello. My question is that my rhubarb has stalks that just went to seed (bolt?)
I removed them. Now those stalks are like a cool straw. Is it edible still? Slice them into rings? Or can I use those straw like stalks as a straw? Drink 7-up through it to get a fresh rhubarb flavor…Thank you
Anonymous says
Thank you I have never had this many flowers so I am glad you gave a very clear description I now know what to do to solve this problem thanks again
Karen says
Hi Just wanted to let you know my rhubarb patch is over 150 yrs old. My great, great grandfather settled here in 1863 under the homesteaders act. I have no idea what kind it is but it grows beautifully and lots of it. My question of cutting the flowers or not has been answered.
Thank you
Karen
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
What a neat treasure to have in your garden, Karen!
Marianne says
My father-in-law told me to give back the plant the leaves when you pull the rhubarb and it works extremely well both as compost and mulch to keep the rhubarb fed and the ground damp. I just chuck them back under the leaves as close as I can get to the stalks. No weeds either. My favourite dessert is strawberry jelly set over just cooked (boiled) rhubarb. Takes the worst of the sour out. Any red jelly works but make up with less water than what the packet says.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thank you for those tips, Marianne, and the dessert sounds delicious too!