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When to Plant Celery in Decatur County, KS

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.

Decatur County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost is October 7, giving you a growing season of approximately 160 days.

At an elevation of 840 feet, Decatur County receives approximately 30.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 87ยฐF, providing good warmth for Celery during the growing season.

Decatur County, KS (Zone 5b) Moderate season
160 days
Last Spring Frost April 30
160 growing days
First Fall Frost October 7

Decatur County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.8-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (19 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 22 Transplant: Apr 26 🍅 Harvest: Jul 19 – Sep 13
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (20 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 26 Transplant: Apr 30 🍅 Harvest: Jul 23 – Sep 17
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (23 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 8 Transplant: May 13 🍅 Harvest: Aug 5 – Sep 30

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
0.8″/week
You supply
1.4″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,960 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Celery needs ~1,525 GDD — county provides 2,440 GDD Excellent fit

Celery Planting Timeline โ€” Decatur County, KS

Celery Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 26 Mar 26 โ€“ Apr 9
Transplant Outdoors April 30 Apr 30 โ€“ May 14
Direct Sow April 16 Apr 16 โ€“ May 7
Fall Sowing July 29 Jul 29 โ€“ Aug 12
Harvest July 23 Jul 23 โ€“ Sep 17

Plant 1" deep ยท 15" apart ยท Rows 24" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors
April Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June โ€”
July Fall Sowing 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 5b

Growing Season

160 days

Growing Tips for Decatur 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 Decatur County, KS?

Decatur County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of April 30. Plan your Celery planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Decatur County, KS?

Decatur County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 30 and first fall frost is October 7.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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