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When to Plant Celeriac in Butler 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.

Butler County, Nebraska is in USDA Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is April 23 and the first fall frost is October 10, giving you a growing season of approximately 170 days.

At an elevation of 837 feet, Butler County receives approximately 20.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 84ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Celeriac to ensure they mature before fall.

Butler County, NE (Zone 5a) Moderate season
170 days
Last Spring Frost April 23
170 growing days
First Fall Frost October 10

Butler County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (32 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 13 Transplant: Apr 17 🍅 Harvest: Jul 31 – Sep 4
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (30 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 19 Transplant: Apr 23 🍅 Harvest: Aug 6 – Sep 10
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (26 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 6 Transplant: May 11 🍅 Harvest: Aug 24 – Sep 28

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
1.0″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,488 gal / 100 sq ft
Celeriac needs ~1,430 GDD — county provides 2,210 GDD Excellent fit

Celeriac Planting Timeline โ€” Butler County, NE

Celeriac Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 19 Mar 19 โ€“ Apr 2
Transplant Outdoors April 23 Apr 23 โ€“ May 7
Direct Sow April 9 Apr 9 โ€“ Apr 30
Fall Sowing August 1 Aug 1 โ€“ Aug 15
Harvest August 6 Aug 6 โ€“ Sep 10

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 Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors
June โ€”
July โ€”
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 5a

Growing Season

170 days

Growing Tips for Butler 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 Butler County, NE?

Butler County is in Zone 5a with an average last frost of April 23. Plan your Celeriac planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Butler County, NE?

Butler County, Nebraska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is April 23 and first fall frost is October 10.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Butler County gardeners in Zone 5a 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 Butler County, NE. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.