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When to Plant Celery in Sherburne 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.

Sherburne County, Minnesota is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 1 and the first fall frost is October 6, giving you a growing season of approximately 158 days.

At an elevation of 568 feet, Sherburne County receives approximately 38.1 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.

Sherburne County, MN (Zone 4a) Moderate season
158 days
Last Spring Frost May 1
158 growing days
First Fall Frost October 6

Sherburne County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (16 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 14 Transplant: Apr 25 🍅 Harvest: Jul 18 – Sep 12
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (18 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 20 Transplant: May 1 🍅 Harvest: Jul 24 – Sep 18
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (14 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 6 Transplant: May 18 🍅 Harvest: Aug 10 – Oct 5

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
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 685 gal / 100 sq ft
Celery needs ~1,150 GDD — county provides 1,817 GDD Excellent fit

Celery Planting Timeline โ€” Sherburne County, MN

Celery Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 20 Mar 20 โ€“ Apr 3
Transplant Outdoors May 1 May 1 โ€“ May 15
Direct Sow April 24 Apr 24 โ€“ May 15
Fall Sowing July 14 Jul 14 โ€“ Jul 28
Harvest July 24 Jul 24 โ€“ Sep 18

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 Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June โ€”
July Fall Sowing Harvest
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 4a

Growing Season

158 days

Growing Tips for Sherburne 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 Sherburne County, MN?

Sherburne County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 1. Plan your Celery planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Sherburne County, MN?

Sherburne County, Minnesota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 1 and first fall frost is October 6.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Sherburne County gardeners in Zone 4a 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 Sherburne County, MN. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.