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When to Plant Celeriac in Wheeler 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.

Wheeler County, Oregon is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 23 and the first fall frost is September 23, giving you a growing season of approximately 123 days.

At an elevation of 2,175 feet, Wheeler County receives approximately 22.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 83ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Celeriac to ensure they mature before fall.

Wheeler County, OR (Zone 5b) Short season
123 days
Last Spring Frost May 23
123 growing days
First Fall Frost September 23

Wheeler County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.2-6.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 11 Transplant: May 16 🍅 Harvest: Aug 29 – Oct 3
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 18 Transplant: May 23 🍅 Harvest: Sep 5 – Oct 10
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 15 Transplant: Jun 19 🍅 Harvest: Oct 2 – Nov 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.

Soil Compatibility in Wheeler County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.2โ€“6.3) is more acidic than Celeriac prefers (6.0โ€“7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (5.7%) 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
0.8″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 133 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€” 3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 2.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr โ€” 1.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
May 3.9" 1.5" 2.4" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jun 3.9" 1" 2.9" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 3.9" 0.4" 3.5" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Aug 3.9" 0.4" 3.5" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Sep 3.9" 0.8" 3.1" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Oct โ€” 2.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Nov โ€” 3.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 3.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mayโ€“Sep in Wheeler 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 ~1,348 GDD — county provides 1,506 GDD Good fit

Celeriac Planting Timeline โ€” Wheeler County, OR

Celeriac Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 18 Apr 18 โ€“ May 2
Transplant Outdoors May 23 May 23 โ€“ Jun 6
Direct Sow May 9 May 9 โ€“ May 30
Harvest September 5 Sep 5 โ€“ Oct 10
Fall Sowing July 15 Jul 15 โ€“ Jul 29

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 Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June Transplant Outdoors
July Fall Sowing
August โ€”
September Harvest
October Harvest
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: too_acidic

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

123 days in Wheeler County

Growing Tips for Celeriac in Wheeler County

Direct sow Celeriac outdoors after May 23 in Wheeler County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 123.0-day growing season in Wheeler 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.

Wheeler County receives only 23" of rain annually. Celeriac needs consistent moisture โ€” install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

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 Wheeler County, OR?

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

What planting zone is Wheeler County, OR?

Wheeler County, Oregon is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 23 and first fall frost is September 23.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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