When Should You Plant Rhubarb?
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GardenSays
Direct-sow rhubarb plants outside Apr 14 – Apr 21 — they shrug off frost.
- Spring sowing
- Apr 14 – Apr 21
- Last frost (typ.)
- May 5
In Minneapolis, MN, the typical last frost lands around May 5, and rhubarb plants are cold-hardy — so unlike tomatoes, you don't wait for frost to pass. Sow 14-21 days before the last frost: Apr 14 – Apr 21, as soon as soil is workable.
- This year's spring sowing window (Apr 14 – Apr 21) has passed — dates shown are for planning ahead.
Do this this week
- 1.Passed for this season — plan next spring: sow Apr 14 – Apr 21
Calculated result · 3 verified sources · Checked 2026-07-18 · How we decide
Why
Sow a short row every 2 weeks inside the window for a steady harvest instead of one glut.
- Rhubarb plants germinate in cold soil and tolerate frost that would kill warm-season crops — waiting until after the last frost wastes their best growing weather.
- The 50% frost date is a planning midpoint — for hardy crops an early start risks little.
When this doesn't apply
- UMN states mid-April planting for Minnesota; converted to a Minneapolis-relative estimate (last frost ~May 5), same conversion method used for onion/turnip. Grown from crown divisions, not usually seed.
- Cold, waterlogged soil rots seed — 'workable' means it crumbles in your hand, not mud.
How this was calculated
- 1. Last spring frostMay 5Source guidance
Minneapolis, MN: typical (50% probability) last 32°F frost
- 2. Direct-sow windowApr 14 – Apr 21Calculated result
Rhubarb is cold-hardy: sow outside 14-21 days before the last frost, once soil is workable
Data sources
- University of Minnesota Extension — Growing rhubarb in home gardens — Rhubarb can be planted in mid-April. Full sun (6+ hours) and well-drained, loamy soil are necessary; give it room to spread its large leaves. Provide one inch of water per week (counting rainfall). Supplement annually with a balanced fertilizer or rich compost. (checked 2026-07-18)
- NOAA NCEI — 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals (freeze date probabilities) (checked 2026-07-15)
- National Gardening Association — frost date lookup (checked 2026-07-15)
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People also ask
When can I harvest rhubarb?
Harvest rhubarb plants when stalks are at least 10-12 inches long and have thickened — wait until the second season after planting (third if grown from seed) before harvesting at all — spring through the end of june. Calculate yours →
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