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When to Plant Celeriac in Deschutes County, OR

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.

Deschutes County, Oregon is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is June 15 and the first fall frost is September 13, giving you a growing season of approximately 90 days.

At an elevation of 221 feet, Deschutes County receives approximately 54.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 81ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Celeriac to ensure they mature before fall. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Celeriac root diseases.

Deschutes County, OR (Zone 6a) Very short season
90 days
Last Spring Frost June 15
90 growing days
First Fall Frost September 13

Deschutes County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.4-6.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 29 Transplant: Jun 3 🍅 Harvest: Sep 16 – Oct 21
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 11 Transplant: Jun 15 🍅 Harvest: Sep 28 – Nov 2
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 22 Transplant: Jun 26 🍅 Harvest: Oct 9 – Nov 13

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 Deschutes County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.4โ€“6.2) is more acidic than Celeriac prefers (6.0โ€“7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (5.0%) โ€” Celeriac will thrive.

How to Plant Celeriac

1"
Planting Depth
15"
Between Plants
24"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.9″/week
Rainfall provides
2.6″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 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€” 7.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 6.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 4.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr โ€” 3.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
May โ€” 3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Jun 3.9" 2.5" 1.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jul 3.9" 1" 2.9" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Aug 3.9" 1" 2.9" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Sep 3.9" 2.2" 1.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct โ€” 4.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Nov โ€” 7.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 9.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Junโ€“Sep in Deschutes 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 967 GDD May not mature

Celeriac Planting Timeline โ€” Deschutes County, OR

Celeriac Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors May 11 May 11 โ€“ May 25
Transplant Outdoors June 15 Jun 15 โ€“ Jun 29
Direct Sow June 1 Jun 1 โ€“ Jun 22
Harvest September 28 Sep 28 โ€“ Nov 2
Fall Sowing July 5 Jul 5 โ€“ Jul 19

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April โ€”
May Start Indoors
June Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
July Fall Sowing
August โ€”
September Harvest
October Harvest
November Harvest
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: too_acidic

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

90 days in Deschutes County

Growing Tips for Celeriac in Deschutes County

Direct sow Celeriac outdoors after June 15 in Deschutes County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 90.0-day growing season in Deschutes County is tight for Celeriac (100.0-120.0 days to maturity). Start indoors and choose early-maturing varieties.

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 Deschutes County, OR?

Deschutes County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of June 15. Plan your Celeriac planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Deschutes County, OR?

Deschutes County, Oregon is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is June 15 and first fall frost is September 13.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Deschutes County gardeners in Zone 6a 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 Deschutes County, OR. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.