When Is Rhubarb Ready to Harvest? Growth Update and Harvest Tips from a Home Garden

English | 日本語

 Good morning.

This week, I began preparing for the rhubarb harvest. Early this morning, I went out to the garden to check on the condition of the rhubarb and other crops after the rainfall that has continued since yesterday.

I had been wondering since last week whether it was time to harvest, so I was feeling a bit excited. It looks like mowing the grass can wait a little longer.

Rhubarb patch nearing harvest time

The plants look very healthy. There are several guidelines for determining the ideal harvest time for rhubarb. Let's take a look at them one by one.

1. The edible stalks are generally considered ready when:
   1. The base of the stalk is about 2–3 cm or thicker
   2. The stalk reaches a height of about 30–40 cm or more
2. Since my garden is located in a highland area where growth tends to be slightly later than in lower elevations, the harvest season typically falls between late May and July.

Rhubarb nearing harvest time

I think the plants need a little more time before reaching the above benchmarks—probably about another two weeks from now.

Since I plan to make a trial batch of jam, I will harvest one plant a little early. However, there are a few important points to keep in mind when harvesting. First, do not harvest too much from a single plant. Limit harvesting to about one-third of the entire plant. Second, leave the young leaves emerging from the center intact.

Also, if flower stalks appear, remove them as soon as possible because they can weaken the plant.

To harvest, firmly grasp the base of the stalk, gently twist it, and pull outward so that the stalk comes away from the crown. In my case, I plan to harvest without using metal tools such as knives.

Azuki beans after the recent rainfall

The azuki beans are growing well, too. So far, there are no signs of insect damage. Growth has been stable since germination, and they appear likely to continue developing well.

Wasabi mustard greens after the recent rainfall

The wasabi mustard greens have reached harvest time. The leaves are in excellent condition, so I plan to harvest them on my way home and serve them at tonight's dinner table.

Broccoli after the recent rainfall

The broccoli was planted around the same time as the azuki beans. Growth has been steady, and I expect the plants to continue getting larger as summer approaches.

Well, that's all for today.