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When to Plant Celery in Johnson 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.

Johnson County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 8 and the first fall frost is October 26, giving you a growing season of approximately 201 days.

At an elevation of 768 feet, Johnson County receives approximately 27.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 87ยฐF, providing good warmth for Celery during the growing season.

Johnson County, KS (Zone 6a) Long season
201 days
Last Spring Frost April 8
201 growing days
First Fall Frost October 26

Johnson County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.8-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (61 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 28 Transplant: Apr 4 🍅 Harvest: Jun 27 – Aug 22
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (61 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 4 Transplant: Apr 8 🍅 Harvest: Jul 1 – Aug 26
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (65 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 19 Transplant: Apr 23 🍅 Harvest: Jul 16 – Sep 10

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
0.6″/week
You supply
1.1″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,982 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Celery needs ~1,525 GDD — county provides 3,065 GDD Excellent fit

Celery Planting Timeline โ€” Johnson County, KS

Celery Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 4 Mar 4 โ€“ Mar 18
Transplant Outdoors April 8 Apr 8 โ€“ Apr 22
Direct Sow March 25 Mar 25 โ€“ Apr 15
Fall Sowing August 17 Aug 17 โ€“ Aug 31
Harvest July 1 Jul 1 โ€“ Aug 26

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

201 days

Growing Tips for Johnson 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 Johnson County, KS?

Johnson County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 8. Plan your Celery planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Johnson County, KS?

Johnson County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 8 and first fall frost is October 26.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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