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When to Plant Rhubarb in Weakley County, TN

Weakley County, Tennessee Zone 7b July

Top priorities for Weakley County, Tennessee gardeners in July

July is a pivotal month for Weakley County, Tennessee gardens. Focus on these tasks first and you'll set up the rest of the season for success.

Avg. last frost April 5
Avg. first frost October 27
Soil temp (4") 86°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.2 hrs

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Rhubarb is a long-lived perennial vegetable grown for its tart, colorful stalks. Only the stalks are edible as the leaves contain toxic oxalic acid.

Weakley County, Tennessee is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 5 and the first fall frost is October 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 205 days.

At an elevation of 1,314 feet, Weakley County receives approximately 45.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 94°F, providing good warmth for Rhubarb during the growing season.

Weakley County, TN (Zone 7b) Long season
205 days
Last Spring Frost April 5
205 growing days
First Fall Frost October 27

Weakley County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Rhubarb Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: Apr 19
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: Apr 26
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: May 11

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Weakley County

How your county's soil matches Rhubarb's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.3–7.1) overlaps with Rhubarb's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Weakley County is excellent for Rhubarb — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.8%). Annual compost additions will help Rhubarb.

How to Plant Rhubarb

1"
Planting Depth
30"
Between Plants
42"
Between Rows

Rhubarb Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 120 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Rhubarb

Rhubarb needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Rhubarb Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 3.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 3.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.1" 1.2" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 4" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 5.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 4" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 3.2" 1.1" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.6" 1.7" 💧 Light watering
Nov 3.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Weakley County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Rhubarb Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Rhubarb needs ~11,224 GDD — county provides 4,202 GDD May not mature

Rhubarb Planting Timeline — Weakley County, TN

Rhubarb Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors April 26 Apr 26 – May 10

Plant 1" deep · 30" apart · Rows 42" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April Transplant Outdoors
May Transplant Outdoors
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

365–730 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

📆 Growing Season

205 days in Weakley County

Growing Tips for Rhubarb in Weakley County

Direct sow Rhubarb outdoors after April 05 in Weakley County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 205.0-day growing season in Weakley County is tight for Rhubarb (365.0-730.0 days to maturity). Start indoors and choose early-maturing varieties.

General growing tips

Plant crowns in early spring in rich, well-drained soil. Do not harvest stalks the first year. Pull (do not cut) stalks at harvest to avoid introducing rot.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Rhubarb in Weakley County, TN?

Weakley County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of April 5. Plan your Rhubarb planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Weakley County, TN?

Weakley County, Tennessee is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 5 and first fall frost is October 27.

🌱

Your Weakley County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Weakley County (Zone 7b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Weakley County, TN. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: July 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.