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When to Plant Celery in Osage County, OK

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.

Osage County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 6 and the first fall frost is October 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 204 days.

At an elevation of 492 feet, Osage County receives approximately 23.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 88ยฐF, providing good warmth for Celery during the growing season.

Osage County, OK (Zone 7a) Long season
204 days
Last Spring Frost April 6
204 growing days
First Fall Frost October 27

Osage County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (65 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 22 Transplant: Mar 29 🍅 Harvest: Jun 21 – Aug 16
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (64 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 2 Transplant: Apr 6 🍅 Harvest: Jun 29 – Aug 24
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (67 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 15 Transplant: Apr 19 🍅 Harvest: Jul 12 – Sep 6

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 Osage County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.3โ€“7.2) overlaps with Celery's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Osage County is excellent for Celery โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.3%) โ€” Celery will thrive.

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 204-day season

Sow every 9.1 weeks. Last sowing by Jun 29 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 18.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.3″/week
Rainfall provides
0.5″/week
You supply
1.0″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,796 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 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€” 0.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 0.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 1.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 5.6" 2.8" 2.8" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
May 5.6" 3.6" 2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 5.6" 3.6" 2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jul 5.6" 2.8" 2.8" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Aug 5.6" 2.6" 3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Sep 5.6" 1.9" 3.7" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Oct 5.6" 1.5" 4.1" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Nov โ€” 0.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 0.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Osage 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 ~1,600 GDD — county provides 3,264 GDD Excellent fit

Celery Planting Timeline โ€” Osage County, OK

Celery Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 2 Mar 2 โ€“ Mar 16
Transplant Outdoors April 6 Apr 6 โ€“ Apr 20
Direct Sow March 23 Mar 23 โ€“ Apr 13
Harvest June 29 Jun 29 โ€“ Aug 24
Fall Sowing August 18 Aug 18 โ€“ Sep 1

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May โ€”
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing Harvest
September Fall Sowing
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: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

204 days in Osage County

Growing Tips for Celery in Osage County

Direct sow Celery outdoors after April 06 in Osage County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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

Osage County receives only 23" 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 Osage County, OK?

Osage County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 6. Plan your Celery planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Osage County, OK?

Osage County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 6 and first fall frost is October 27.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Osage County gardeners in Zone 7a 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 Osage County, OK. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.