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When to Plant Celery in Baltimore County, MD

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.

Baltimore County, Maryland is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 3 and the first fall frost is November 6, giving you a growing season of approximately 217 days.

At an elevation of 641 feet, Baltimore County receives approximately 49.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 93ยฐF, providing good warmth for Celery during the growing season.

Baltimore County, MD (Zone 7a) Long season
217 days
Last Spring Frost April 3
217 growing days
First Fall Frost November 6

Baltimore County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.7-7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (78 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 21 Transplant: Mar 28 🍅 Harvest: Jun 20 – Aug 15
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (77 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 27 Transplant: Apr 3 🍅 Harvest: Jun 26 – Aug 21
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (79 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 12 Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: Jul 9 – Sep 3

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
1.0″/week
You supply
0.6″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 1,062 gal / 100 sq ft
Celery needs ~1,975 GDD — county provides 4,285 GDD Excellent fit

Celery Planting Timeline โ€” Baltimore County, MD

Celery Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 27 Feb 27 โ€“ Mar 13
Transplant Outdoors April 3 Apr 3 โ€“ Apr 17
Direct Sow March 20 Mar 20 โ€“ Apr 10
Fall Sowing August 28 Aug 28 โ€“ Sep 11
Harvest June 26 Jun 26 โ€“ Aug 21

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February Start Indoors
March Start Indoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May โ€”
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing Harvest
September Fall Sowing
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 7a

Growing Season

217 days

Growing Tips for Baltimore 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 Baltimore County, MD?

Baltimore County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 3. Plan your Celery planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Baltimore County, MD?

Baltimore County, Maryland is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 3 and first fall frost is November 6.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Baltimore County gardeners in Zone 7a 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 Baltimore County, MD. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.