← How to grow rhubarb
Planting Calendar · Zone 4B

When to plant rhubarb in zone 4b

In USDA zone 4b, plant rhubarb around Apr 20, and harvest from Oct 20.

Growing SeasonZone 4b
Last frost ~May 4First frost ~Oct 20Today
Start indoorsTransplant / sowHarvestFrost risk
APRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDECJANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCT
Transplant Apr 20 · First harvest Oct 20 · Wrap by Oct 20
Last spring frostMay 4
Transplant outApr 20
First harvestOct 20
Last harvestOct 20
First fall frostOct 20

Zone 4b covers 52 days of last-frost dates. We measured Pierre, SD at Apr 28 and Jackson, WY at Jun 19. Give us your town or ZIP and we'll use ten years of daily lows recorded at your own coordinates instead of the middle of that range.

Why these dates work in zone 4b

Zone 4b's last spring frost averages May 4 and first fall frost Oct 20 — about 169 frost-free days. Rhubarb tolerates light frost, so you can set plants out ahead of the last-frost date and keep harvesting into the cooler fall.

Common questions

How long does rhubarb take to grow in zone 4b?

Rhubarb matures in about 548–730 days from transplanting. In zone 4b that means setting plants out around Apr 20 and first picking around Oct 20.

Will rhubarb survive frost in zone 4b?

Yes — rhubarb tolerates light frost. In zone 4b you can set plants out a little before the last frost (around May 4) and keep harvesting past the first fall frost (around Oct 20).

For soil, spacing, pests and companion planting, see the full rhubarb growing guide →