When to plant rhubarb in California
California spans USDA zones 6b–11a, so the right time to plant rhubarb shifts by weeks across the state. The window to transplant seedlings outdoors runs from about November 17 in San Mateo to April 28 in Truckee — below are local dates for 497 cities, each computed from its own frost dates.
| City | Zone | Last frost | First frost | Transplant out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 10b | January 2 | December 26 | November 21 – December 19 |
| San Diego | 10b | January 6 | December 21 | November 25 – December 23 |
| San Jose | 9b | January 2 | December 25 | November 21 – December 19 |
| San Francisco | 10a | December 30 | December 25 | November 18 – December 16 |
| Fresno | 9b | January 14 | December 14 | December 3 – December 31 |
| Sacramento | 9b | January 12 | December 16 | December 1 – December 29 |
| Long Beach | 10b | January 9 | January 5 | November 28 – December 26 |
| Oakland | 10a | January 7 | December 23 | November 26 – December 24 |
Rhubarb in California: FAQ
When can I plant rhubarb in California?
Across California, the time to transplant rhubarb spans roughly November 17 in San Mateo to April 28 in Truckee, each following that city's local frost dates.
Does the rhubarb planting date vary across California?
Yes. California publishes 497 cities with their own frost dates, so the right rhubarb planting window shifts by weeks between the warmest and coldest parts of the state — use your city's page for the exact dates.
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