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When to Plant Celery in Ness 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.

Ness County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 21 and the first fall frost is October 16, giving you a growing season of approximately 178 days.

At an elevation of 668 feet, Ness County receives approximately 26.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 90ยฐF, providing good warmth for Celery during the growing season.

Ness County, KS (Zone 6a) Moderate season
178 days
Last Spring Frost April 21
178 growing days
First Fall Frost October 16

Ness County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (37 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 12 Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: Jul 9 – Sep 3
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (38 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 17 Transplant: Apr 21 🍅 Harvest: Jul 14 – Sep 8
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (37 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 30 Transplant: May 4 🍅 Harvest: Jul 27 – Sep 21

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 1,667 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Celery needs ~1,750 GDD — county provides 3,115 GDD Excellent fit

Celery Planting Timeline โ€” Ness County, KS

Celery Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 17 Mar 17 โ€“ Mar 31
Transplant Outdoors April 21 Apr 21 โ€“ May 5
Direct Sow April 7 Apr 7 โ€“ Apr 28
Fall Sowing August 7 Aug 7 โ€“ Aug 21
Harvest July 14 Jul 14 โ€“ Sep 8

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors
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

178 days

Growing Tips for Ness 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 Ness County, KS?

Ness County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 21. Plan your Celery planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Ness County, KS?

Ness County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 21 and first fall frost is October 16.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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