Rainline Garden

When to plant rhubarb in Bend and Redmond, OR

Plant rhubarb crowns in Bend and Redmond Apr 28 – Jun 9.

Easy Plant dormant crowns

Why these dates

Bend and Redmond's typical last spring frost is June 9. As a hardy perennial, this crop can go in about 6 weeks before that.

High desert and mountains. Central and high eastern Oregon. Frost is possible almost any month. Use row covers, wall-o-water or cloches for warm crops, and choose short-season varieties.

Difficulty
Easy
Sun
Full sun to part shade
Spacing
3 to 4 feet apart
Planting depth
Crown buds 1 to 2 inches below the surface
Frost
Hardy perennial; comes back every year
First harvest
Light picking in year two; full harvests from year three

Step by step

  1. Pick a sunny spot with soil that drains well, and mix in an inch or two of compost.
  2. Plant rhubarb crowns Apr 28 – Jun 9, 3 to 4 feet apart. Crown buds 1 to 2 inches below the surface.
  3. Mulch with compost each spring, and cut off flower stalks as soon as they appear.
  4. Harvest: Pull (don't cut) stalks when they're 10 to 15 inches long. Take no more than a third at once, and stop in early summer. Never eat the leaves.

Varieties that do well here

  • Victoria
  • Canada Red
  • Crimson Red

Watch out for

Crown rot in soggy soil. In wet west-side gardens, plant on a slight mound or in a raised bed.

Plant it where it can stay for a decade. Don't pick the first year, and never eat the leaves, which are poisonous.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Bend and Redmond, OR?

Typically June 9. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by June 26. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Redmond Roberts Field.

Is it too late to plant rhubarb in Bend and Redmond?

The spring planting window runs through June 9. Potted plants can still go in later if you water them faithfully through their first summer.

How long until I can pick rhubarb?

Light picking in year two; full harvests from year three. Pull (don't cut) stalks when they're 10 to 15 inches long. Take no more than a third at once, and stop in early summer. Never eat the leaves.

Also plant in Bend and Redmond around the same time

Planting dates for rhubarb in nearby areas

Full planting calendar for Bend and Redmond · Rhubarb in every city