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When to Plant Celeriac in Bourbon 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.

Bourbon County, Kentucky is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 16 and the first fall frost is October 26, giving you a growing season of approximately 193 days.

At an elevation of 3,419 feet, Bourbon County receives approximately 46.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 86ยฐF, providing good warmth for Celeriac during the growing season.

Bourbon County, KY (Zone 6b) Moderate season
193 days
Last Spring Frost April 16
193 growing days
First Fall Frost October 26

Bourbon County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.8-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (54 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 5 Transplant: Apr 9 🍅 Harvest: Jul 23 – Aug 27
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (53 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 12 Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: Jul 30 – Sep 3
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (48 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 29 Transplant: May 3 🍅 Harvest: Aug 16 – Sep 20

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
1.0″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 842 gal / 100 sq ft
Celeriac needs ~1,595 GDD — county provides 2,798 GDD Excellent fit

Celeriac Planting Timeline โ€” Bourbon County, KY

Celeriac Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 12 Mar 12 โ€“ Mar 26
Transplant Outdoors April 16 Apr 16 โ€“ Apr 30
Direct Sow April 2 Apr 2 โ€“ Apr 23
Fall Sowing August 17 Aug 17 โ€“ Aug 31
Harvest July 30 Jul 30 โ€“ Sep 3

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors
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 6b

Growing Season

193 days

Growing Tips for Bourbon 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 Bourbon County, KY?

Bourbon County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 16. Plan your Celeriac planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Bourbon County, KY?

Bourbon County, Kentucky is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 16 and first fall frost is October 26.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Bourbon 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 Bourbon County, KY. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.