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When to Plant Celery in Macoupin County, IL

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.

Macoupin County, Illinois is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 11 and the first fall frost is October 21, giving you a growing season of approximately 193 days.

At an elevation of 859 feet, Macoupin County receives approximately 30.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 90ยฐF, providing good warmth for Celery during the growing season.

Macoupin County, IL (Zone 6a) Moderate season
193 days
Last Spring Frost April 11
193 growing days
First Fall Frost October 21

Macoupin County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (55 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 28 Transplant: Apr 4 🍅 Harvest: Jun 27 – Aug 22
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (53 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 7 Transplant: Apr 11 🍅 Harvest: Jul 4 – Aug 29
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (58 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 16 Transplant: Apr 20 🍅 Harvest: Jul 13 – Sep 7

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
0.7″/week
You supply
0.8″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,422 gal / 100 sq ft
Celery needs ~1,750 GDD — county provides 3,377 GDD Excellent fit

Celery Planting Timeline โ€” Macoupin County, IL

Celery Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 7 Mar 7 โ€“ Mar 21
Transplant Outdoors April 11 Apr 11 โ€“ Apr 25
Direct Sow March 28 Mar 28 โ€“ Apr 18
Fall Sowing August 12 Aug 12 โ€“ Aug 26
Harvest July 4 Jul 4 โ€“ Aug 29

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 โ€”
October โ€”
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 6a

Growing Season

193 days

Growing Tips for Macoupin 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 Macoupin County, IL?

Macoupin County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 11. Plan your Celery planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Macoupin County, IL?

Macoupin County, Illinois is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 11 and first fall frost is October 21.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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