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When to Plant Celery in Lyon County, NV

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.

Lyon County, Nevada is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is May 12 and the first fall frost is October 10, giving you a growing season of approximately 151 days.

At an elevation of 4,379 feet, Lyon County receives approximately 17.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 101ยฐF, so Celery may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Celery will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Celery successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Lyon County, NV (Zone 7a) Moderate season
151 days
Last Spring Frost May 12
151 growing days
First Fall Frost October 10

Lyon County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

6.7-8.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (15 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 27 Transplant: May 1 🍅 Harvest: Jul 24 – Sep 18
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (11 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 7 Transplant: May 12 🍅 Harvest: Aug 4 – Sep 29
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (2 days to spare)
Start indoors: May 2 Transplant: Jun 6 🍅 Harvest: Aug 29 – Oct 24

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 Lyon County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7โ€“8.2) is more alkaline than Celery prefers (6.0โ€“7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Lyon County warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Celery will need more frequent watering and regular compost additions to retain nutrients.

Drainage

Celery is a heavy drinker but your soil drains very quickly. Mulch heavily and consider drip irrigation.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (0.7%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting 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 151-day season

Sow every 9.1 weeks. Last sowing by Jun 12 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 01.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.3″/week
Rainfall provides
0.5″/week
You supply
1.5″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,958 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Celery

Celery needs approximately 1.3 inches of water per week (5.6" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Celery Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 0.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr โ€” 0.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
May 5.6" 0.4" 5.2" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jun 5.6" 0.5" 5.1" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 5.6" 2.6" 3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Aug 5.6" 3.9" 1.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 5.6" 2.4" 3.2" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Oct 5.6" 1.4" 4.2" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Nov โ€” 1.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 1.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mayโ€“Oct in Lyon County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Celery Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Celery needs ~2,575 GDD — county provides 3,888 GDD Excellent fit

Celery Planting Timeline โ€” Lyon County, NV

Celery Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 7 Apr 7 โ€“ Apr 21
Transplant Outdoors May 12 May 12 โ€“ May 26
Direct Sow April 28 Apr 28 โ€“ May 19
Harvest August 4 Aug 4 โ€“ Sep 29
Fall Sowing August 1 Aug 1 โ€“ Aug 15

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April Start Indoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June โ€”
July โ€”
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: too_alkaline

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

151 days in Lyon County

Growing Tips for Celery in Lyon County

Direct sow Celery outdoors after May 12 in Lyon County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Lyon County dries quickly โ€” mulch Celery with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

With summer highs reaching 101ยฐF in Lyon County, provide afternoon shade for Celery and water deeply in the morning.

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

Lyon County receives only 17" of rain annually. Celery needs consistent moisture โ€” install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

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

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Celery in Lyon County, NV?

Lyon County is in Zone 7a 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 Lyon County, NV?

Lyon County, Nevada is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is May 12 and first fall frost is October 10.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Lyon County gardeners in Zone 7a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

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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 Lyon County, NV. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.