Rhubarb – Harvesting stalks

Q: My rhubarb plants have suddenly produced a tall shoot with a flower on the top. Does this mean I can no longer eat the stalks?

A: You’re lucky to have rhubarb to consider eating. This perennial vegetable struggles to survive in our hot, humid conditions. The leaf stems are certainly edible, blooming or not, in contrast with the leaves, which are poisonous. To help your rhubarb conserve its energy, cut off flower stems as they appear.