Celeriac Planting Guide

May

celeriac this May — what to know

Everything below applies to celeriac broadly. For a plan that's dialled into your county's frost dates and soil, tap your location.

Sun full sun

Water high

Days to harvest 100–120

Plant depth 1″

Spacing 15″

How to water celeriac
Keep the root zone damp for celeriac. Drip irrigation or soaker hoses pay for themselves with this plant.
Where to put celeriac
celeriac wants at least 6 hours of direct sun. Less than that and you'll get leggy plants with weak yields.
Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant celeriac. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.

See when to plant celeriac where you live →

Celeriac is a celery relative grown for its knobby, flavorful root rather than its stalks. It has a rich celery flavor and is excellent roasted, mashed, or in soups.

Apium graveolens var. rapaceum · Vegetable · Apiaceae family · 100–120 days to maturity

Get Your Personalized Celeriac Planting Dates

Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.

Where Can You Grow Celeriac?

Zone Compatibility for Celeriac Zones 3a – 9b

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b

Ideal (data available) Suitable Marginal Not recommended

Planting Dates by Zone

Zone	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Harvest
Zone 3a	Apr 3	May 8	May 15	Aug 28 – Sep 18
Zone 3b	Mar 29	May 3	May 10	Aug 23 – Sep 13
Zone 4a	Mar 25	Apr 29	May 6	Aug 19 – Sep 23
Zone 4b	Mar 20	Apr 24	May 1	Aug 14 – Sep 18
Zone 5a	Mar 21	Apr 11	Apr 25	Aug 8 – Sep 12
Zone 5b	Mar 14	Apr 4	Apr 18	Aug 1 – Sep 5
Zone 6a	Mar 6	Mar 27	Apr 10	Jul 24 – Aug 28
Zone 6b	Feb 27	Mar 20	Apr 3	Jul 17 – Aug 21
Zone 7a	Feb 18	Mar 11	Mar 25	Jul 8 – Aug 12
Zone 7b	Feb 11	Mar 4	Mar 18	Jul 1 – Aug 5
Zone 8a	Feb 1	Feb 22	Mar 8	Jun 21 – Jul 26
Zone 8b	Jan 21	Feb 11	Feb 25	Jun 10 – Jul 15
Zone 9a	Jan 13	Jan 20	Feb 10	May 26 – Jun 30
Zone 9b	Dec 28	Jan 4	Jan 25	May 10 – Jun 14

Why are some columns showing "—"?

Transplant shows "—" because Celeriac is best direct sown where it will grow. Transplanting can disturb the roots and slow growth.

How to Plant Celeriac

Planting Depth

15"

Between Plants

24"

Between Rows

🍂 Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

High — keep soil consistently moist

Keep soil consistently moist. Mulch heavily to retain moisture.

🧪 Soil pH

6 – 7

Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.

🗺️ Hardiness Zones

Zone 3a – 9b

📅 Days to Maturity

100–120 days

Long-season crop. Start indoors in cold climates to get a head start.

👪 Plant Family

Apiaceae

Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Apiaceae family crops grew last year.

How Much Celeriac to Grow

Celeriac takes 100–120 days to mature. In most zones you'll get one harvest per season, so plant enough to last.

Companion Planting for Celeriac

✅ Good Companions

Leeks Onion Cabbage

❌ Keep Away From

Carrots Parsnip

Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Growing Tips for Celeriac

Start seeds indoors 10-12 weeks before last frost. Remove side roots as they develop to encourage a single large bulb. Harvest after a light frost for best flavor.

Saving Celeriac Seeds

Recommended for Your Garden

🌱

Seed Starting Trays $8-20

Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.

🧪

Soil Test Kit $12-25

Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.

🏷️

Garden Plant Markers $6-12

Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.

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Celeriac by State

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Celeriac?

Celeriac (Apium graveolens var. rapaceum) takes 100 to 120 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.

What zones can Celeriac grow in?

Celeriac can be grown in USDA zones 3a through 9b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.

How much sun does Celeriac need?

Growing Celeriac requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), High — keep soil consistently moist, and soil pH of 6 to 7.