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When to Plant Celeriac in Pembina County, ND

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.

Pembina County, North Dakota is in USDA Zone 3b. The average last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost is September 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 136 days.

At an elevation of 958 feet, Pembina County receives approximately 26.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 79ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Celeriac to ensure they mature before fall.

Pembina County, ND (Zone 3b) Short season
136 days
Last Spring Frost May 15
136 growing days
First Fall Frost September 28

Pembina County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (8 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 30 Transplant: May 11 🍅 Harvest: Aug 24 – Sep 14
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (10 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 3 Transplant: May 15 🍅 Harvest: Aug 28 – Sep 18
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (9 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 18 Transplant: May 30 🍅 Harvest: Sep 12 – Oct 3

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 Pembina County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.6โ€“7.3) overlaps with Celeriac's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.2%) 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 99 gal / 100 sq ft

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€” 0.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 1.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr โ€” 2.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
May 3.9" 3.6" 0.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 3.9" 4.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3.9" 3.2" 0.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 3.9" 3.4" 0.5" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 3.9" 2.7" 1.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct โ€” 1.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Nov โ€” 0.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 0.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mayโ€“Sep in Pembina 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 ~1,018 GDD — county provides 1,258 GDD Good fit

Celeriac Planting Timeline โ€” Pembina County, ND

Celeriac Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 3 Apr 3 โ€“ Apr 17
Transplant Outdoors May 15 May 15 โ€“ May 29
Direct Sow May 8 May 8 โ€“ May 29
Harvest August 28 Aug 28 โ€“ Sep 18
Fall Sowing July 6 Jul 6 โ€“ Jul 20

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
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 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 3b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

136 days in Pembina County

Growing Tips for Celeriac in Pembina County

Direct sow Celeriac outdoors after May 15 in Pembina 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 Pembina County, ND?

Pembina County is in Zone 3b with an average last frost of May 15. Plan your Celeriac planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Pembina County, ND?

Pembina County, North Dakota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 3b. The average last spring frost is May 15 and first fall frost is September 28.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Pembina County gardeners in Zone 3b 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 Pembina County, ND. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.