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When to Plant Celeriac in Door County, WI

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.

Door County, Wisconsin is in USDA Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 11 and the first fall frost is October 8, giving you a growing season of approximately 150 days.

At an elevation of 564 feet, Door County receives approximately 41.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 87ยฐF, providing good warmth for Celeriac during the growing season.

Door County, WI (Zone 5a) Moderate season
150 days
Last Spring Frost May 11
150 growing days
First Fall Frost October 8

Door County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (11 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 31 Transplant: May 5 🍅 Harvest: Aug 18 – Sep 22
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (10 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 6 Transplant: May 11 🍅 Harvest: Aug 24 – Sep 28
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (12 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 21 Transplant: May 26 🍅 Harvest: Sep 8 – Oct 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.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
1.2″/week
You supply
0.9″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,249 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Celeriac needs ~1,678 GDD — county provides 2,287 GDD Excellent fit

Celeriac Planting Timeline โ€” Door County, WI

Celeriac Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 6 Apr 6 โ€“ Apr 20
Transplant Outdoors May 11 May 11 โ€“ May 25
Direct Sow April 27 Apr 27 โ€“ May 18
Fall Sowing July 30 Jul 30 โ€“ Aug 13
Harvest August 24 Aug 24 โ€“ Sep 28

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 5a

Growing Season

150 days

Growing Tips for Door 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 Door County, WI?

Door County is in Zone 5a with an average last frost of May 11. Plan your Celeriac planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Door County, WI?

Door County, Wisconsin is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 11 and first fall frost is October 8.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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