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When to Plant Celeriac in Nicollet County, MN

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.

Nicollet County, Minnesota is in USDA Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is April 27 and the first fall frost is October 6, giving you a growing season of approximately 162 days.

At an elevation of 1,356 feet, Nicollet County receives approximately 30.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 82ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Celeriac to ensure they mature before fall.

Nicollet County, MN (Zone 4b) Moderate season
162 days
Last Spring Frost April 27
162 growing days
First Fall Frost October 6

Nicollet County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.9-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (18 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 12 Transplant: Apr 23 🍅 Harvest: Aug 6 – Sep 10
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (22 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 16 Transplant: Apr 27 🍅 Harvest: Aug 10 – Sep 14
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (15 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 3 Transplant: May 15 🍅 Harvest: Aug 28 – Oct 2

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 Nicollet County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.9โ€“7.3) overlaps with Celeriac's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.7%) โ€” Celeriac will thrive.

How to Plant Celeriac

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

Fall planting: Sow 12 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.9″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 207 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 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€” 1.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 3.9" 2.8" 1.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 3.9" 3.5" 0.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 3.9" 3.3" 0.6" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jul 3.9" 3.8" 0.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 3.9" 3" 0.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 3.9" 2.6" 1.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 3.9" 2.4" 1.5" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov โ€” 2.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 1.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Nicollet 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 ~1,265 GDD — county provides 1,863 GDD Excellent fit

Celeriac Planting Timeline โ€” Nicollet County, MN

Celeriac Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 16 Mar 16 โ€“ Mar 30
Transplant Outdoors April 27 Apr 27 โ€“ May 11
Direct Sow April 20 Apr 20 โ€“ May 11
Harvest August 10 Aug 10 โ€“ Sep 14
Fall Sowing July 14 Jul 14 โ€“ Jul 28

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 Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June โ€”
July Fall Sowing
August Harvest
September Harvest
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: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 4b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

162 days in Nicollet County

Growing Tips for Celeriac in Nicollet County

Direct sow Celeriac outdoors after April 27 in Nicollet 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 Nicollet County, MN?

Nicollet County is in Zone 4b with an average last frost of April 27. Plan your Celeriac planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Nicollet County, MN?

Nicollet County, Minnesota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is April 27 and first fall frost is October 6.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Nicollet County gardeners in Zone 4b 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 Nicollet County, MN. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.