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When to Plant Celery in Hinsdale County, CO

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.

Hinsdale County, Colorado is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is June 18 and the first fall frost is September 10, giving you a growing season of approximately 84 days.

At an elevation of 6,833 feet, Hinsdale County receives approximately 23.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 82ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Celery to ensure they mature before fall.

Hinsdale County, CO (Zone 4a) Very short season
84 days
Last Spring Frost June 18
84 growing days
First Fall Frost September 10

Hinsdale County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.8-8.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 24 Transplant: Jun 5 🍅 Harvest: Aug 28 – Oct 23
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 7 Transplant: Jun 18 🍅 Harvest: Sep 10 – Nov 5
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 18 Transplant: Jun 29 🍅 Harvest: Sep 21 – Nov 16

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
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 278 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Celery needs ~1,150 GDD — county provides 966 GDD May not mature

Celery Planting Timeline โ€” Hinsdale County, CO

Celery Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors May 7 May 7 โ€“ May 21
Transplant Outdoors June 18 Jun 18 โ€“ Jul 2
Direct Sow June 11 Jun 11 โ€“ Jul 2
Fall Sowing June 18 Jun 18 โ€“ Jul 2
Harvest September 10 Sep 10 โ€“ Nov 5

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 Fall Sowing
July Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow Fall Sowing
August โ€”
September Harvest
October Harvest
November Harvest
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 4a

Growing Season

84 days

Growing Tips for Hinsdale 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

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Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Celery in Hinsdale County, CO?

Hinsdale County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of June 18. Plan your Celery planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Hinsdale County, CO?

Hinsdale County, Colorado is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is June 18 and first fall frost is September 10.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Hinsdale County gardeners in Zone 4a 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 Hinsdale County, CO. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.