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When to Plant Celery in Lassen County, CA

Celery is a marshland plant that requires consistent moisture and cool temperatures to produce crisp, flavorful stalks. It is a rewarding but demanding garden crop.

Lassen County, California is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is May 28 and the first fall frost is September 29, giving you a growing season of approximately 124 days.

At an elevation of 1,854 feet, Lassen County receives approximately 43.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 84ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Celery to ensure they mature before fall.

Lassen County, CA (Zone 6b) Short season
124 days
Last Spring Frost May 28
124 growing days
First Fall Frost September 29

Lassen County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.1-7.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 13 Transplant: May 18 🍅 Harvest: Aug 10 – Oct 5
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 23 Transplant: May 28 🍅 Harvest: Aug 20 – Oct 15
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 15 Transplant: Jun 19 🍅 Harvest: Sep 11 – 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.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
1.5″/week
You supply
0.0″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 26 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Celery needs ~1,300 GDD — county provides 1,612 GDD Good fit

Celery Planting Timeline โ€” Lassen County, CA

Celery Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 23 Apr 23 โ€“ May 7
Transplant Outdoors May 28 May 28 โ€“ Jun 11
Direct Sow May 14 May 14 โ€“ Jun 4
Fall Sowing July 21 Jul 21 โ€“ Aug 4
Harvest August 20 Aug 20 โ€“ Oct 15

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 Direct Sow
July Fall Sowing
August Fall Sowing Harvest
September Harvest
October Harvest
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

High โ€” keep soil consistently moist

Days to Maturity

80โ€“120 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 6b

Growing Season

124 days

Growing Tips for Lassen County

Start seeds indoors 10-12 weeks before last frost. Keep soil consistently moist and never let it dry out. Blanch stalks by mounding soil or using collars for milder flavor.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Carrots
  • Parsnip

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Celery in Lassen County, CA?

Lassen County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of May 28. Plan your Celery planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Lassen County, CA?

Lassen County, California is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is May 28 and first fall frost is September 29.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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