how long into the season can you still harvest/use rhubarb?

[cathleenc]

when should you stop harvesting and using rhubarb?

I realize it's stringy at this point - but could I just scrape off the strings, like celery, and still cook with it?

At what point does harvesting begin to negatively impact the rhubarb plant?

thanks
Cathy

[peacebaker]

There was a thread on this a couple of months ago. I'm posting it because there were differing opinions, ha. I guess the idea is to let it store up energy for next year,starting around now...

http://homesteadingtoday.com/showthread.php?t=307475

But I have to add I harvested a little this week and used it, seemed fine if I picked the smaller stalks they were very tender. And my plant is so old I don't think I could kill it if I tried, ha! I might not pick gallons for freezing now, but a recipe's worth would be fine.

[cathleenc]

thanks for the link!