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When to plant rhubarb in Shelton, WA

Plant rhubarb crowns in Shelton Mar 16 – Apr 27.

Easy Plant dormant crowns

Why these dates

Shelton's typical last spring frost is April 27. As a hardy perennial, this crop can go in about 6 weeks before that.

West-side valleys. The Willamette Valley, Puget Sound and southern Oregon valleys. Long frost-free seasons, but soil stays cold and wet into May, so warm crops wait for warm soil, not just the last frost.

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 Mar 16 – Apr 27, 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 Shelton, WA?

Typically April 27. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by May 12. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Shelton Sanderson Field.

Is it too late to plant rhubarb in Shelton?

The spring planting window runs through April 27. Potted plants can still go in later if you water them faithfully through their first summer. Fall planting also works well here.

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 Shelton around the same time

Planting dates for rhubarb in nearby areas

Full planting calendar for Shelton · Rhubarb in every city