When to plant rhubarb in Walla Walla, WA

Plant rhubarb crowns in Walla Walla Mar 20 – May 1.

Easy Plant dormant crowns

Why these dates

Walla Walla's typical last spring frost is March 27. As a hardy perennial, this crop doesn't need to wait for that date. In the Columbia Basin and low eastern valleys, though, the soil usually isn't ready to work until about March 20.

Columbia Basin and low eastern valleys. Hot, dry summers and quick spring warm-up. Warm crops go in earlier than west of the Cascades, and irrigation matters more than rain.

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

Pick a sunny spot with soil that drains well, and mix in an inch or two of compost.
Plant rhubarb crowns Mar 20 – May 1, 3 to 4 feet apart. Crown buds 1 to 2 inches below the surface.
Mulch with compost each spring, and cut off flower stalks as soon as they appear.
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 Walla Walla, WA?

Typically March 27. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by April 22. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Walla Walla Regional Airport.

Is it too late to plant rhubarb in Walla Walla?

The spring planting window runs through May 1. 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 Walla Walla around the same time

Planting dates for rhubarb in nearby areas

Pendleton, OR Mar 20 – May 1
The Dalles, OR Mar 20 – May 1
Yakima, WA Mar 27 – May 8
Wenatchee, WA Mar 20 – May 1
Tri-Cities (Pasco, Kennewick, Richland), WA Mar 20 – May 1
Moses Lake, WA Mar 20 – May 1

Full planting calendar for Walla Walla · Rhubarb in every city