← How to grow rhubarb
Planting Calendar · Zone 6B

When to plant rhubarb in zone 6b

In USDA zone 6b, plant rhubarb around Apr 5, and harvest from Oct 5.

Growing SeasonZone 6b
Last frost ~Apr 19First frost ~Oct 29Today
Start indoorsTransplant / sowHarvestFrost risk
MARAPRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDECJANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCT
Transplant Apr 5 · First harvest Oct 5 · Wrap by Oct 29
Last spring frostApr 19
Transplant outApr 5
First harvestOct 5
Last harvestOct 29
First fall frostOct 29

Zone 6b covers 25 days of last-frost dates. We measured Columbia, MO at Apr 7 and Santa Fe, NM at May 2. 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 6b

Zone 6b's last spring frost averages Apr 19 and first fall frost Oct 29 — about 193 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 6b?

Rhubarb matures in about 548–730 days from transplanting. In zone 6b that means setting plants out around Apr 5 and first picking around Oct 5.

Will rhubarb survive frost in zone 6b?

Yes — rhubarb tolerates light frost. In zone 6b you can set plants out a little before the last frost (around Apr 19) and keep harvesting past the first fall frost (around Oct 29).

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