DibbleGrowing rhubarb: from seed to harvest
Plant crowns in the cool part of the year, once the soil is workable. A hardy perennial that needs a cold winter rest and struggles where winters stay mild. Wait until the second year to harvest the tart stalks (never the leaves).
Planting dates for rhubarb by zone
| Zone | Start seeds indoors | Sow or transplant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | not needed | April 27 | April 25 |
| Zone 4 | not needed | April 19 | April 18 |
| Zone 5 | not needed | April 11 | April 7 |
| Zone 6 | not needed | April 3 | April 5 |
| Zone 7 | not needed | March 18 | March 18 |
| Zone 8 | Not suited | ||
| Zone 9 | Not suited | ||
| Zone 10 | Not suited | ||
| Zone 11 | Not suited | ||
Each date is the start of the best window from the same climate engine the Dibble app uses, run at typical places in each zone. Dibble tunes them to your garden's own location and lets you adjust frost dates for your own yard.
Companion plants
Good neighbors for Rhubarb:
Related crops
Strawberry
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Questions
When should I plant rhubarb?
It depends on your zone. Rhubarb is a hardy crop, so the timing follows your last spring frost. Look up your zone in the table below for exact start, sow, and harvest dates, or open Dibble and set where your garden is to get your own calendar.
How long does it take to grow rhubarb?
About 365 days from transplant to the first harvest, with a picking window of roughly 60 days after that.
What grows well with rhubarb?
Good companions include Strawberry.
Plant at the right time this season
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