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When to Plant Celery in Hancock County, OH

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.

Hancock County, Ohio is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 25 and the first fall frost is October 22, giving you a growing season of approximately 180 days.

At an elevation of 1,125 feet, Hancock County receives approximately 36.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 84ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Celery to ensure they mature before fall.

Hancock County, OH (Zone 5b) Moderate season
180 days
Last Spring Frost April 25
180 growing days
First Fall Frost October 22

Hancock County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.8-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (41 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 15 Transplant: Apr 19 🍅 Harvest: Jul 12 – Sep 6
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (40 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 21 Transplant: Apr 25 🍅 Harvest: Jul 18 – Sep 12
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (42 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 30 Transplant: May 4 🍅 Harvest: Jul 27 – Sep 21

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
0.9″/week
You supply
0.7″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 1,039 gal / 100 sq ft
Celery needs ~1,300 GDD — county provides 2,340 GDD Excellent fit

Celery Planting Timeline โ€” Hancock County, OH

Celery Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 21 Mar 21 โ€“ Apr 4
Transplant Outdoors April 25 Apr 25 โ€“ May 9
Direct Sow April 11 Apr 11 โ€“ May 2
Fall Sowing August 13 Aug 13 โ€“ Aug 27
Harvest July 18 Jul 18 โ€“ Sep 12

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 Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June โ€”
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing 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 5b

Growing Season

180 days

Growing Tips for Hancock 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 Hancock County, OH?

Hancock County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of April 25. Plan your Celery planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Hancock County, OH?

Hancock County, Ohio is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 25 and first fall frost is October 22.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Hancock County gardeners in Zone 5b 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 Hancock County, OH. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.