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When to Plant Celery in Carlton County, MN

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.

Carlton County, Minnesota is in USDA Zone 3b. The average last spring frost is May 12 and the first fall frost is October 2, giving you a growing season of approximately 143 days.

At an elevation of 516 feet, Carlton County receives approximately 32.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 82ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Celery to ensure they mature before fall.

Carlton County, MN (Zone 3b) Short season
143 days
Last Spring Frost May 12
143 growing days
First Fall Frost October 2

Carlton County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.2-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (16 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 24 Transplant: May 5 🍅 Harvest: Jul 28 – Sep 8
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (17 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 31 Transplant: May 12 🍅 Harvest: Aug 4 – Sep 15
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (12 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 19 Transplant: May 31 🍅 Harvest: Aug 23 – Oct 4

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 820 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Celery needs ~1,150 GDD — county provides 1,644 GDD Excellent fit

Celery Planting Timeline โ€” Carlton County, MN

Celery Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 31 Mar 31 โ€“ Apr 14
Transplant Outdoors May 12 May 12 โ€“ May 26
Direct Sow May 5 May 5 โ€“ May 26
Fall Sowing July 10 Jul 10 โ€“ Jul 24
Harvest August 4 Aug 4 โ€“ Sep 15

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
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June โ€”
July Fall Sowing
August 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 3b

Growing Season

143 days

Growing Tips for Carlton 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 Carlton County, MN?

Carlton County is in Zone 3b with an average last frost of May 12. Plan your Celery planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Carlton County, MN?

Carlton County, Minnesota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 3b. The average last spring frost is May 12 and first fall frost is October 2.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Carlton County gardeners in Zone 3b 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 Carlton County, MN. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.