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When to Plant Celeriac in Arthur County, NE

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.

Arthur County, Nebraska is in USDA Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 9 and the first fall frost is October 6, giving you a growing season of approximately 150 days.

At an elevation of 728 feet, Arthur County receives approximately 34 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 81ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Celeriac to ensure they mature before fall.

Arthur County, NE (Zone 4b) Moderate season
150 days
Last Spring Frost May 9
150 growing days
First Fall Frost October 6

Arthur County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.2-7.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (10 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 21 Transplant: May 2 🍅 Harvest: Aug 15 – Sep 19
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (10 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 28 Transplant: May 9 🍅 Harvest: Aug 22 – Sep 26
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (6 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 10 Transplant: May 22 🍅 Harvest: Sep 4 – Oct 9

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 Arthur County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.2โ€“7.7) overlaps with Celeriac's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.7%). Annual compost additions will help Celeriac.

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
1.0″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 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€” 2.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 2.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 3.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr โ€” 3.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
May 3.9" 4.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3.9" 2.2" 1.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jul 3.9" 3.2" 0.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 3.9" 3.2" 0.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 3.9" 2.5" 1.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 3.9" 3.2" 0.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov โ€” 2.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 1.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mayโ€“Oct in Arthur 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 ~1,182 GDD — county provides 1,612 GDD Excellent fit

Celeriac Planting Timeline โ€” Arthur County, NE

Celeriac Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 28 Mar 28 โ€“ Apr 11
Transplant Outdoors May 9 May 9 โ€“ May 23
Direct Sow May 2 May 2 โ€“ May 23
Harvest August 22 Aug 22 โ€“ Sep 26
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 Start Indoors
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 Natural rainfall sufficient

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

150 days in Arthur County

Growing Tips for Celeriac in Arthur County

Direct sow Celeriac outdoors after May 09 in Arthur 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 Arthur County, NE?

Arthur County is in Zone 4b with an average last frost of May 9. Plan your Celeriac planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Arthur County, NE?

Arthur County, Nebraska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 9 and first fall frost is October 6.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Arthur County gardeners in Zone 4b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

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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 Arthur County, NE. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.