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When to Plant Celeriac in Amador County, CA

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.

Amador County, California is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 8 and the first fall frost is November 25, giving you a growing season of approximately 262 days.

At an elevation of 1,335 feet, Amador County receives approximately 42.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 89ยฐF, providing good warmth for Celeriac during the growing season.

Amador County, CA (Zone 8a) Long season
262 days
Last Spring Frost March 8
262 growing days
First Fall Frost November 25

Amador County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (137 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 1 Transplant: Feb 5 🍅 Harvest: May 21 – Jun 25
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (122 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 1 Transplant: Mar 8 🍅 Harvest: Jun 21 – Jul 26
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (104 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 15 Transplant: Apr 19 🍅 Harvest: Aug 2 – Sep 6

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 Amador County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7โ€“7.8) is more alkaline than Celeriac prefers (6.0โ€“7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Amador County is excellent for Celeriac โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.7%). Annual compost additions will help Celeriac.

How to Plant Celeriac

1"
Planting Depth
15"
Between Plants
24"
Between Rows

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

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.9″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 603 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Celeriac

Celeriac needs approximately 0.9 inches of water per week (3.9" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Celeriac Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 9.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 3.9" 6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Apr 3.9" 3.5" 0.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 3.9" 1" 2.9" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jun 3.9" 0.2" 3.7" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 3.9" 0" 3.9" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Aug 3.9" 0" 3.9" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Sep 3.9" 0.5" 3.4" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Oct 3.9" 1.9" 2" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Nov 3.9" 4.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Dec โ€” 7.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Marโ€“Nov in Amador County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Celeriac 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" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF 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.

Celeriac needs ~1,842 GDD — county provides 4,388 GDD Excellent fit

Celeriac Planting Timeline โ€” Amador County, CA

Celeriac Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 1 Feb 1 โ€“ Feb 15
Transplant Outdoors March 8 Mar 8 โ€“ Mar 22
Direct Sow February 22 Feb 22 โ€“ Mar 15
Harvest June 21 Jun 21 โ€“ Jul 26
Fall Sowing September 16 Sep 16 โ€“ Sep 30

Plant 1" deep ยท 15" apart ยท Rows 24" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February Start Indoors Direct Sow
March Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
April โ€”
May โ€”
June Harvest
July Harvest
August โ€”
September Fall Sowing
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.9"/week ยท Only during dry spells

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

100โ€“120 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: too_alkaline

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 8a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

262 days in Amador County

Growing Tips for Celeriac in Amador County

Direct sow Celeriac outdoors after March 08 in Amador County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Celeriac in this region include carrot rust fly and parsleyworm. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

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.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Carrots
  • Parsnip

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Celeriac in Amador County, CA?

Amador County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of March 8. Plan your Celeriac planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Amador County, CA?

Amador County, California is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 8 and first fall frost is November 25.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Amador County gardeners in Zone 8a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

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