Blog

When to Plant Celery in Foster County, ND

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.

Foster County, North Dakota is in USDA Zone 3b. The average last spring frost is May 10 and the first fall frost is September 30, giving you a growing season of approximately 143 days.

At an elevation of 895 feet, Foster County receives approximately 27.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 81ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Celery to ensure they mature before fall.

Foster County, ND (Zone 3b) Short season
143 days
Last Spring Frost May 10
143 growing days
First Fall Frost September 30

Foster County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (20 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 20 Transplant: May 1 🍅 Harvest: Jul 24 – Sep 4
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (17 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 29 Transplant: May 10 🍅 Harvest: Aug 2 – Sep 13
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (22 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 7 Transplant: May 19 🍅 Harvest: Aug 11 – Sep 22

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
0.8″/week
You supply
0.8″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,048 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Celery needs ~1,075 GDD — county provides 1,537 GDD Excellent fit

Celery Planting Timeline โ€” Foster County, ND

Celery Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 29 Mar 29 โ€“ Apr 12
Transplant Outdoors May 10 May 10 โ€“ May 24
Direct Sow May 3 May 3 โ€“ May 24
Fall Sowing July 8 Jul 8 โ€“ Jul 22
Harvest August 2 Aug 2 โ€“ Sep 13

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 Foster 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 Foster County, ND?

Foster County is in Zone 3b with an average last frost of May 10. Plan your Celery planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Foster County, ND?

Foster County, North Dakota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 3b. The average last spring frost is May 10 and first fall frost is September 30.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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