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When to Plant Celeriac in Albemarle County, VA

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.

Albemarle County, Virginia is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 13 and the first fall frost is October 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 198 days.

At an elevation of 1,017 feet, Albemarle County receives approximately 48.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 94ยฐF, providing good warmth for Celeriac during the growing season.

Albemarle County, VA (Zone 7a) Moderate season
198 days
Last Spring Frost April 13
198 growing days
First Fall Frost October 28

Albemarle County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (59 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 28 Transplant: Apr 4 🍅 Harvest: Jul 18 – Aug 22
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (58 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 9 Transplant: Apr 13 🍅 Harvest: Jul 27 – Aug 31
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (48 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 4 Transplant: May 9 🍅 Harvest: Aug 22 – Sep 26

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
0.9″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Celeriac needs ~2,255 GDD — county provides 4,059 GDD Excellent fit

Celeriac Planting Timeline โ€” Albemarle County, VA

Celeriac Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 9 Mar 9 โ€“ Mar 23
Transplant Outdoors April 13 Apr 13 โ€“ Apr 27
Direct Sow March 30 Mar 30 โ€“ Apr 20
Fall Sowing August 19 Aug 19 โ€“ Sep 2
Harvest July 27 Jul 27 โ€“ Aug 31

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May โ€”
June โ€”
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing Harvest
September Fall Sowing
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 7a

Growing Season

198 days

Growing Tips for Albemarle 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

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Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Celeriac in Albemarle County, VA?

Albemarle County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 13. Plan your Celeriac planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Albemarle County, VA?

Albemarle County, Virginia is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 13 and first fall frost is October 28.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Albemarle County gardeners in Zone 7a 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 Albemarle County, VA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.