How to Collect Rhubarb Seeds

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Last Updated: April 3, 2025 Approved

After the rhubarb has flowered, it goes to seed. If you have left one or two rhubarb to get this far, then you an reap the benefits of the seeds to plant another year. This article provides a pictorial demonstration of collecting the seeds.

Steps

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Pick a nice looking branch filled with seeds from the rhubarb plant. Pick a few if you want but you will get a lot of seeds from one branch even. You can use snips if wanted but the brittle branch will be easy enough to snap off by hand.
Remove your gardening gloves at this stage, if you are wearing any.

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At the end, you will have a nice amount of seeds and an empty branch for adding to the mulching pile.

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Question

What should be done with the big flowers on rhubarb plants? When I break them off the stems seem hollow.

Community Answer

My rhubarb is quite mature and sends up flower stalks all spring! I have been breaking them off so the plant's energy will go into stem production, however next spring I will let one or two mature and collect the seed; then more rhubarb plants!

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Is it safe and healthy to eat a first year's growth?

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The leaves are POISON. NEVER EAT THE LEAVES. Only eat stems. First-year stems should be OK.

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Tips

Store the seeds in a dry, cool place until you want to plant them. Be sure to label them so that you know what they are.

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