Rainline Garden

When to plant rhubarb in Spokane, WA

Plant rhubarb crowns in Spokane Apr 1 – May 13.

Easy Plant dormant crowns

Why these dates

Spokane's typical last spring frost is April 26. As a hardy perennial, this crop doesn't need to wait for that date. In the Inland Northwest, though, the soil usually isn't ready to work until about April 1.

Inland Northwest. Higher, colder interior valleys. Cold springs and an earlier fall mean a shorter season; quick-maturing varieties pay off.

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 1 – May 13, 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 Spokane, WA?

Typically April 26. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by May 10. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Spokane International Airport.

Is it too late to plant rhubarb in Spokane?

The spring planting window runs through May 13. 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 Spokane around the same time

Planting dates for rhubarb in nearby areas

Full planting calendar for Spokane · Rhubarb in every city