In message , Jaques d'Alltrades
writes
The message
from Serendipity contains these words:

I bought a couple of rhubarb crowns during the autumn and
planted them. They 'took' immediately and sprouted three leaves
apiece. They still appear to be growing happily.

Am I right in assuming that I'll be taking nothing from them
next year?

Quite correct. Assuming you mean to establish it rather than replace it
yearly.

My advice is not to pull even one stick. That was the advice I adhered
to when I planted a jungle of it, and one of my friends was a bit
unchuffed when I wouldn't let him have even one stick from each.

The next year he was over the moon at the abundance of it - we had
rhubarb coming out of our ears. Metaphorically. One stick weighed just
under a pound.

My experience is that rhubarb is as virulent as convolvulus with the
exception that rhubarb is not poisonous (But nevertheless strictly avoid
consumption of the leaves) and also rhubarb plants don't go up the
fence in size (:^)
The first year is a bit dicey, - it hasn't got going yet, but perhaps
one light picking in the first year for say one pie should not set it
back, but of course it all depends on when it was planted and how it has
got going . I live west of the Lake District. I avoid using the
matured thick fibrous stems. Don't like them.
When the root gets going and is fed moderately it usually goes a bit
daft in its copious growth and you have more sticks than you can cope
with.
Young tender rhubarb pie with a dollop of thick cream. -- Yum-yum!.
Doug.