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When to Plant Celeriac in Seward 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.

Seward County, Nebraska is in USDA Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is April 21 and the first fall frost is October 13, giving you a growing season of approximately 175 days.

At an elevation of 527 feet, Seward County receives approximately 24.2 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.

Seward County, NE (Zone 5a) Moderate season
175 days
Last Spring Frost April 21
175 growing days
First Fall Frost October 13

Seward County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.4-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (37 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 12 Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: Jul 30 – Sep 3
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (35 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 17 Transplant: Apr 21 🍅 Harvest: Aug 4 – Sep 8
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (38 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 28 Transplant: May 2 🍅 Harvest: Aug 15 – Sep 19

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
0.6″/week
You supply
1.1″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,718 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Celeriac needs ~1,430 GDD — county provides 2,275 GDD Excellent fit

Celeriac Planting Timeline โ€” Seward County, NE

Celeriac Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 17 Mar 17 โ€“ Mar 31
Transplant Outdoors April 21 Apr 21 โ€“ May 5
Direct Sow April 7 Apr 7 โ€“ Apr 28
Fall Sowing August 4 Aug 4 โ€“ Aug 18
Harvest August 4 Aug 4 โ€“ Sep 8

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
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

175 days

Growing Tips for Seward 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 Seward County, NE?

Seward County is in Zone 5a with an average last frost of April 21. Plan your Celeriac planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Seward County, NE?

Seward County, Nebraska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is April 21 and first fall frost is October 13.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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