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When to Plant Celery in Putnam County, IN

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.

Putnam County, Indiana is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 14 and the first fall frost is October 21, giving you a growing season of approximately 190 days.

At an elevation of 670 feet, Putnam County receives approximately 31.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 88ยฐF, providing good warmth for Celery during the growing season.

Putnam County, IN (Zone 6a) Moderate season
190 days
Last Spring Frost April 14
190 growing days
First Fall Frost October 21

Putnam 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 (45 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 7 Transplant: Apr 11 🍅 Harvest: Jul 4 – Aug 29
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (50 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 10 Transplant: Apr 14 🍅 Harvest: Jul 7 – Sep 1
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (43 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 29 Transplant: May 3 🍅 Harvest: Jul 26 – Sep 20

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
1.3″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 2,124 gal / 100 sq ft
Celery needs ~1,600 GDD — county provides 3,040 GDD Excellent fit

Celery Planting Timeline โ€” Putnam County, IN

Celery Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 10 Mar 10 โ€“ Mar 24
Transplant Outdoors April 14 Apr 14 โ€“ Apr 28
Direct Sow March 31 Mar 31 โ€“ Apr 21
Fall Sowing August 12 Aug 12 โ€“ Aug 26
Harvest July 7 Jul 7 โ€“ Sep 1

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 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

80โ€“120 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 6a

Growing Season

190 days

Growing Tips for Putnam 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 Putnam County, IN?

Putnam County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 14. Plan your Celery planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Putnam County, IN?

Putnam County, Indiana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 14 and first fall frost is October 21.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Putnam 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 Putnam County, IN. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.