When to Plant Rhubarb
Plant rhubarb crowns 1 to 4 weeks before your last frost.
Rhubarb at a glance
- Plant
- 1 to 4 weeks before your last frost
- Time to harvest
- From the second spring
- Harvest lasts
- about 8 weeks
- Spacing
- 1 plant per 9 square feet
- Frost
- Takes hard frosts
- Comes back
- Every year, as a perennial
Growing rhubarb
Rhubarb is a hardy perennial that comes back for many years. Plant the crowns in rich, well-drained soil in a sunny spot where they can stay. Cut off flower stalks as they appear, and give the plant compost each spring.
Dates by hardiness zone
Typical dates for each zone; your ZIP code gives your own.
| Zone | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3a | Apr 30 – May 21 | May 28 – Jul 23 |
| Zone 3b | Apr 19 – May 10 | May 17 – Jul 12 |
| Zone 4a | Apr 14 – May 5 | May 12 – Jul 7 |
| Zone 4b | Apr 10 – May 1 | May 8 – Jul 3 |
| Zone 5a | Apr 5–26 | May 3 – Jun 28 |
| Zone 5b | Apr 3–24 | May 1 – Jun 26 |
| Zone 6a | Apr 1–22 | Apr 29 – Jun 24 |
| Zone 6b | Mar 26 – Apr 16 | Apr 23 – Jun 18 |
| Zone 7a | Mar 19 – Apr 9 | Apr 16 – Jun 11 |
| Zone 7b | Mar 8–29 | Apr 5 – May 31 |
| Zone 8a | Mar 1–22 | Mar 29 – May 24 |
| Zone 8b | Feb 17 – Mar 10 | Mar 17 – May 12 |
| Zone 9a | Feb 2–23 | Mar 2 – Apr 27 |
| Zone 9b | Jan 4–25 | Feb 1 – Mar 29 |
| Zone 10a | Dec 27 – Jan 17 | Jan 24 – Mar 21 |
| Zones 10b–11b | Rhubarb needs a cold winter to rest, so it seldom thrives where frost is rare. | |
Good neighbors
Questions about rhubarb
When can I pick rhubarb?
In spring and early summer, lightly in the first harvest year and fully after that. Stop by midsummer so the plant can build strength for next year.
How do I pick rhubarb?
Pull the stalks with a gentle twist at the base rather than cutting them, and leave at least a third of them on the plant so it stays strong.
