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When to Plant Celery in Gilliam County, OR

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.

Gilliam County, Oregon is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 25 and the first fall frost is October 15, giving you a growing season of approximately 173 days.

At an elevation of 965 feet, Gilliam County receives approximately 22.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 85ยฐF, providing good warmth for Celery during the growing season.

Gilliam County, OR (Zone 6a) Moderate season
173 days
Last Spring Frost April 25
173 growing days
First Fall Frost October 15

Gilliam County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (33 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 11 Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: Jul 8 – Sep 2
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (33 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 21 Transplant: Apr 25 🍅 Harvest: Jul 18 – Sep 12
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (33 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 8 Transplant: May 13 🍅 Harvest: Aug 5 – Sep 30

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
0.5″/week
You supply
1.4″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 2,165 gal / 100 sq ft
Celery needs ~1,375 GDD — county provides 2,378 GDD Excellent fit

Celery Planting Timeline โ€” Gilliam County, OR

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 6 Aug 6 โ€“ Aug 20
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 6a

Growing Season

173 days

Growing Tips for Gilliam 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 Gilliam County, OR?

Gilliam County is in Zone 6a 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 Gilliam County, OR?

Gilliam County, Oregon is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 25 and first fall frost is October 15.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Gilliam County gardeners in Zone 6a 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 Gilliam County, OR. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.