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When to Plant Celeriac in Ottawa County, KS

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.

Ottawa County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 14 and the first fall frost is October 23, giving you a growing season of approximately 192 days.

At an elevation of 993 feet, Ottawa County receives approximately 24 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 85ยฐF, providing good warmth for Celeriac during the growing season.

Ottawa County, KS (Zone 5b) Moderate season
192 days
Last Spring Frost April 14
192 growing days
First Fall Frost October 23

Ottawa County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.8-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (46 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 7 Transplant: Apr 11 🍅 Harvest: Jul 25 – Aug 29
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (52 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 10 Transplant: Apr 14 🍅 Harvest: Jul 28 – Sep 1
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (49 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 23 Transplant: Apr 27 🍅 Harvest: Aug 10 – Sep 14

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.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.5″/week
You supply
1.2″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,999 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Celeriac needs ~1,512 GDD — county provides 2,640 GDD Excellent fit

Celeriac Planting Timeline โ€” Ottawa County, KS

Celeriac Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 10 Mar 10 โ€“ Mar 24
Transplant Outdoors April 14 Apr 14 โ€“ Apr 28
Direct Sow March 31 Mar 31 โ€“ Apr 21
Fall Sowing August 14 Aug 14 โ€“ Aug 28
Harvest July 28 Jul 28 โ€“ Sep 1

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

High โ€” keep soil consistently moist

Days to Maturity

100โ€“120 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 5b

Growing Season

192 days

Growing Tips for Ottawa County

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

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Celeriac in Ottawa County, KS?

Ottawa County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of April 14. Plan your Celeriac planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Ottawa County, KS?

Ottawa County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 14 and first fall frost is October 23.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Ottawa County gardeners in Zone 5b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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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 Ottawa County, KS. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.