What happens if rhubarb freezes

Any new leaves that appear and are normal can be eaten. The leaf blade of rhubarb is poisonous regardless of whether it suffered cold damage as it naturally contains oxalic acid. The leaf stalk is the edible portion of this plant. However, when leaves become frozen, the oxalic content of the stalks increases, making them dangerous to consume. Learn more at www. Most people, when they pick rhubarb, are particular and choose the nicest, freshest looking stalks.

They would not choose softened, black, or mushy stalks. Those stalks should be pulled and discarded; this is something most people would do without thinking. Remember, only the stalks or petioles should be eaten because the leaves contain moderately poisonous oxalic acid.

It is generally recommended that home gardeners stop harvesting rhubarb in early to mid-June. Sometimes we have callers wanting to harvest enough for a crisp or a pie during mid-summer. We tell them to look for some smaller, tender stalks that could be pulled. If the rhubarb patch is an older, established patch pulling a few stalks should not cause permanent damage to the patch.

I love to quilt, sew, cook, and bake. I spent many years gardening, canning, and preserving food for my family when my children were at home. More Posts - Website. This answer is in conflict with the University of Illinois Extension that says that the oxalic acid travels from the leaves to the stalks and then they become toxic.

If a stalk of rhubarb has frozen, the University of Illinois says that those particular stalks—that will shrivel and turn black after freezing—would not be safe to eat. If you are out in the rhubarb patch, will you choose stalks that are shriveled and black? Or will you choose stalks that look crisp and nice? The stalks that look good are safe.

Stalks that look shriveled or black may or may not be safe, but you would never choose to eat those anyway. Think a clarification is needed here. If the rhubarb is hit with a frost the leaves will wilt and the oxalic acid present in the leaves will migrate to the stalk.

Over a few days the entire stalk is likely to shrivel and turn black, however the morning after the frost the stalk may look fine. In a heavy frost or freeze the entire plant will wilt. Just how toxic is oxalic acid? However, a fraction of that could nevertheless cause severe symptoms of oxalic acid poisoning.

Every Spring the Help Line will get at least 1 call regarding frost and rhubarb. The recommendation is: if the leaves appear to be wilted due to frost DO NOT use the rhubarb as the oxalic acid will have already begun its migration into the stalks even though the stalk looks fine.

Cut the stalks down to the ground and new growth will emerge. In a heavy frost or freeze the entire plant will appear wilted, the stalks will be limp. Again, cut the plant down to the ground. With temperatures in nw iowa expected to drop we harvested some rhubarb and have attempted to cover as well.

I was worried as how to know if my rhubarb has frost damage and is toxic. So if we are expected to have frost over the next few nights we need to cover and uncover then wait several days for the actual results? You are commenting using your Twitter account. You are commenting using your Facebook account. Menu Home Contact. Click the "Follow" button to receive email notices of each new post.

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Email Address: Follow. Don Kinzler. Like this: Like Loading Glad to hear it. We all look forward to that first rhubarb desert. Sprinkle topping over batter. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until a knife comes out clean. Makes 12 servings. Each serving has calories, 4 grams g of protein, 9 g of fat, 41 g of carbohydrate, 1 g of fiber and milligrams of sodium.

Julie Garden-Robinson, Ph. Extension and Ag Research News Accessibility. You might have played it when you were a kid. I grabbed a few stalks and we enjoyed the dessert recipe included with this column. Heed the earlier warning: Do not eat any rhubarb leaves and you will be fine. Please do not stop eating your vegetables, by the way. As I was talking about rhubarb and cold temperatures, someone overheard me. Filed under: food human health food-safety.

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