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Can You Grow Rhubarb in Ontario?

Canada · Canadian Zone 5 · zones 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Grows well here

Rhubarb thrives here — it is extremely cold-hardy and needs cold winters to perform well.

Plant zones

2a–8a

Ontario last frost

mid-April

Ontario first frost

mid-October

Days to harvest

Perennial

About Rhubarb

Rhubarb is extremely cold-hardy and productive — plant once and harvest stalks every spring for decades.

Plant crowns in spring. Never harvest the first year. Never eat the leaves — they are toxic. Mulch crowns in autumn. Divide every 5-7 years. Rhubarb actually improves after cold winters.

Full rhubarb growing guide →

Gardening in Ontario

Ontario spans several climate zones. Northern Ontario is Zone 3-4 with short seasons; southern Ontario is Zone 5-7 with long productive seasons. The Niagara Peninsula is one of Canada's premier fruit-growing regions.

See what grows well in Ontario →

Frequently asked questions

Can you grow Rhubarb in Ontario?

Rhubarb thrives here — it is extremely cold-hardy and needs cold winters to perform well.

What zone is Ontario?

Ontario spans Canadian Zone 5 (3, 4, 5, 6, 7).

When do you plant Rhubarb in Ontario?

See the planting guide for Rhubarb — timing depends on your exact frost date.