can I use the rhubarb I picked this morning?

I know it's a bit late in the season and I've a feeling something icky happens in July, but it was smothering me chilli plant so a couple of leaves had to go and it seems such a shame to waste them....

I just read this in Garden Action:-

"In subsequent years pull three or four stems at a time always leaving three or four - the cropping season is early May to July or August, and you should get two or three chances during this time. Select the largest stalks, waiting for the leaves to fully open before pulling"

Wahay

Oh good ... more crumble

I read somewhere a while ago that you shouldn't pick rhubarb after July - but my mum's always picked it for as long as it's producing decent stems and she hasn't poisoned anyone (as far as we know ) or killed off her rhubarb plants