Blog

When to Plant Celery in Scott 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.

Scott County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 25 and the first fall frost is October 15, giving you a growing season of approximately 173 days.

At an elevation of 1,044 feet, Scott County receives approximately 25.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 89ยฐF, providing good warmth for Celery during the growing season.

Scott County, KS (Zone 6a) Moderate season
173 days
Last Spring Frost April 25
173 growing days
First Fall Frost October 15

Scott County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.4-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (37 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 13 Transplant: Apr 17 🍅 Harvest: Jul 10 – Sep 4
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (33 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 21 Transplant: Apr 25 🍅 Harvest: Jul 18 – Sep 12
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (33 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 3 Transplant: May 8 🍅 Harvest: Jul 31 – Sep 25

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.

Soil Compatibility in Scott County

How your county's soil matches Celery's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.4โ€“7.6) overlaps with Celery's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Scott County is excellent for Celery โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.8%). Annual compost additions will help Celery.

How to Plant Celery

1"
Planting Depth
15"
Between Plants
24"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Celery

2
successive plantings in your 173-day season

Sow every 9.1 weeks. Last sowing by Jun 17 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 06.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.3″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.8″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,263 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Celery needs ~1,675 GDD — county provides 2,897 GDD Excellent fit

Celery Planting Timeline โ€” Scott County, KS

Celery Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 21 Mar 21 โ€“ Apr 4
Transplant Outdoors April 25 Apr 25 โ€“ May 9
Direct Sow April 11 Apr 11 โ€“ May 2
Fall Sowing August 6 Aug 6 โ€“ Aug 20
Harvest July 18 Jul 18 โ€“ Sep 12

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 Harvest
August Fall Sowing Harvest
September Harvest
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1.3"/week ยท 2-3 times/week

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

80โ€“120 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

173 days in Scott County

Growing Tips for Celery in Scott County

Direct sow Celery outdoors after April 25 in Scott County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Celery in this region include carrot rust fly and parsleyworm. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

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 Scott County, KS?

Scott County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 25. Plan your Celery planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Scott County, KS?

Scott County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 25 and first fall frost is October 15.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Scott County gardeners in Zone 6a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Scott County, KS. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.