I have watched video after video trying to get my teflon brain to hold onto anything relevant. Multiple videos claim you cut down the first set of shoots because they’re always bull shoots. And that the disease hides in the old shoots. So if this is all bullshit, I am in disbelief and grateful for your correction! Who would go on the internet and just lie! Thanks, mulch appreciated!

For now, I will just not cut anything yet.

Im so glad i finally started asking people here (after two years…!) Thank you for the answer! I think that perfectly satisfies my wonderings. Its only been in this location for about a year, making this its first spring not being in a pot.

Well, its not like i can cut them to see if they’re hollow. I added some pictures i failed to upload in the OP. I planted them here last year on top of a good chunk of compost so they should have plenty of that.

I also heard a claim that diseases will hide in the early sprouts, or was it in the old growth? Do you know if this plays any role?

I actually only cut last years stems down earlier this year as last year didn’t have any harvest anyway. Perhaps I should have cut them deeper down?

Sorry for the bombardment of questions, hope its okay.

Just realised the other pictures didn’t get included!