I saved some rhubarb seed from the seed box. I know it likes cool weather, so figure it will be a nice winter garden plant for me. Am I going to have to replant seeds every Aug? Or is this something I might work to select for a strain that survives our summer?
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Wow so interesting, I come from a climate where rhubarb is a reliable perennial, just read a little bit about the struggle Texas growers have with heat and fungal problems often leading to rhubarb to be a annual sown august…. Seems like a very worthwhile project to adapt rhubarb to survive in your extremes conditions, I would get seeds from as many sources as possible, especially any plants in Texas or similar heat zone which have survived atleast two years. Seems planting them in the shadiest spot may help the heat problems. Best of luck to you, I hope some folks on here have some heat thriving rhubarb seed to share!!
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Thanks, @Taja , I realized I should put it in my front flower bed, which is north facing. Our house is oriented N/S, so it stays cooler out there than the back of the south facing beds. And you’d inspired me to ask on local gardening groups! Blessings!
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In 8b it is a perennial and you will not need to replant. I have started from seed and saved seed, but likely will not need to save more seeds now that the land is filled up.
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That’s nice to know! I asked about seed on a local FB gardening group, and the first two comments where “that doesn’t grow here” and “its too hot here”. 
I think I’ll seed them in the chosen spot on Thursday, as our latest heat wave should be done by then. Hehehe, feel free to send me seed! 
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I’ve planted out every seed I’ve had owned and transplanted every plant I brought. Never had rhubarb last the season in NE Texas. Hats off to anyone that does. I’m not about to bring them indoors, run grow lights and do extreme care for any plant so it has to survive outside or die and let me focus on plants that want to. Sun, shade, part shade, every side of the house and garden I’ve tried it. Shame as it is my favorite pie filler 
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I did have someone on FB, here in Waco, say she put it in a spot that has shade from noon on. I’ll give it a go, but I wonder what was different with this gal in Waco and your experience. Ah, well. If I get it to grow, I’ll be happy, and if not I’ll be sad. And either way, I’ll be okay.
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I’ll be as always keen to know how it goes. Waco is warmer than here 8a vs 8b 
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8b Oregon is much different than 8b Texas. Hardiness zones are based on the cold side of the local average temperature range.
What the rhubarb is going to struggle with is the intense summer. The drought/flood cycles, humidity, and crazy winter temperature swings we get will likely also be issues.
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No doubt about that. I was just giving one example from personal experience. I did read it as winter hardy not summer hardy!
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So very true. Grow zones can be deceptive as we plan. E.g. this last summer that heat dome had dfw and farther north deep in it’s clutches, but Waco had one of the mildest summers in 16 yrs; that’s how long we’ve lived here. But I also know microbiomes can be useful. I know the inward corner facing south is much hotter than the inward corner facing north. So maybe I just need to create a microbiome for rhubarb! 
I love how nerdy I can get with this type of gardening.
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No doubt, just like in Colorado our friends had to grow with netting over their plants because of the hail. Everything is local I guess. Perhaps you can treat your rhubarb like I treat my basil and use some t-post and PVC elbows to create a trellis for some shade cloth. This really helps the basil not bolt as well as increase the leaf size so maybe this could be applied in Texas for rhubarb.
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