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When to Plant Celery in Venango County, PA

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.

Venango County, Pennsylvania is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 5 and the first fall frost is October 18, giving you a growing season of approximately 166 days.

At an elevation of 1,166 feet, Venango County receives approximately 40.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 87ยฐF, providing good warmth for Celery during the growing season.

Venango County, PA (Zone 5b) Moderate season
166 days
Last Spring Frost May 5
166 growing days
First Fall Frost October 18

Venango County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.2-6.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (27 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 25 Transplant: Apr 29 🍅 Harvest: Jul 22 – Sep 16
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (26 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 31 Transplant: May 5 🍅 Harvest: Jul 28 – Sep 22
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (24 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 13 Transplant: May 18 🍅 Harvest: Aug 10 – Oct 5

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
1.0″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 695 gal / 100 sq ft
Celery needs ~1,525 GDD — county provides 2,531 GDD Excellent fit

Celery Planting Timeline โ€” Venango County, PA

Celery Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 31 Mar 31 โ€“ Apr 14
Transplant Outdoors May 5 May 5 โ€“ May 19
Direct Sow April 21 Apr 21 โ€“ May 12
Fall Sowing August 9 Aug 9 โ€“ Aug 23
Harvest July 28 Jul 28 โ€“ Sep 22

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 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

166 days

Growing Tips for Venango 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 Venango County, PA?

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

What planting zone is Venango County, PA?

Venango County, Pennsylvania is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 5 and first fall frost is October 18.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Venango 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 Venango County, PA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.