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When to Plant Celeriac in Lincoln County, NM

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.

Lincoln County, New Mexico is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is May 7 and the first fall frost is October 9, giving you a growing season of approximately 155 days.

At an elevation of 5,466 feet, Lincoln County receives approximately 16.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 88ยฐF, providing good warmth for Celeriac during the growing season. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Celeriac will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Celeriac successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Lincoln County, NM (Zone 6b) Moderate season
155 days
Last Spring Frost May 7
155 growing days
First Fall Frost October 9

Lincoln County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

7-8.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (16 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 28 Transplant: May 2 🍅 Harvest: Aug 15 – Sep 19
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (15 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 2 Transplant: May 7 🍅 Harvest: Aug 20 – Sep 24
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (21 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 14 Transplant: May 19 🍅 Harvest: Sep 1 – Oct 6

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
0.4″/week
You supply
1.3″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,752 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Celeriac needs ~1,760 GDD — county provides 2,480 GDD Excellent fit

Celeriac Planting Timeline โ€” Lincoln County, NM

Celeriac Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 2 Apr 2 โ€“ Apr 16
Transplant Outdoors May 7 May 7 โ€“ May 21
Direct Sow April 23 Apr 23 โ€“ May 14
Fall Sowing July 31 Jul 31 โ€“ Aug 14
Harvest August 20 Aug 20 โ€“ Sep 24

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April Start Indoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June โ€”
July Fall Sowing
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

155 days

Growing Tips for Lincoln 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 Lincoln County, NM?

Lincoln County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of May 7. Plan your Celeriac planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Lincoln County, NM?

Lincoln County, New Mexico is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is May 7 and first fall frost is October 9.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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