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When to Plant Celeriac in Barren County, KY

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.

Barren County, Kentucky is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 9 and the first fall frost is October 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 202 days.

At an elevation of 2,292 feet, Barren County receives approximately 51.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 85ยฐF, providing good warmth for Celeriac during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Celeriac root diseases.

Barren County, KY (Zone 6b) Long season
202 days
Last Spring Frost April 9
202 growing days
First Fall Frost October 28

Barren County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.6-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (61 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 27 Transplant: Apr 3 🍅 Harvest: Jul 17 – Aug 21
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (62 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 5 Transplant: Apr 9 🍅 Harvest: Jul 23 – Aug 27
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (59 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 20 Transplant: Apr 24 🍅 Harvest: Aug 7 – Sep 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.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
1.1″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 764 gal / 100 sq ft
Celeriac needs ~1,512 GDD — county provides 2,777 GDD Excellent fit

Celeriac Planting Timeline โ€” Barren County, KY

Celeriac Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 5 Mar 5 โ€“ Mar 19
Transplant Outdoors April 9 Apr 9 โ€“ Apr 23
Direct Sow March 26 Mar 26 โ€“ Apr 16
Fall Sowing August 19 Aug 19 โ€“ Sep 2
Harvest July 23 Jul 23 โ€“ Aug 27

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 Fall Sowing
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 6b

Growing Season

202 days

Growing Tips for Barren 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

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Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Celeriac in Barren County, KY?

Barren County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 9. Plan your Celeriac planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Barren County, KY?

Barren County, Kentucky is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 9 and first fall frost is October 28.

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Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Barren County gardeners in Zone 6b 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 Barren County, KY. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.