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When to Plant Celery in Edmunds County, SD

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.

Edmunds County, South Dakota is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 10 and the first fall frost is September 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 141 days.

At an elevation of 935 feet, Edmunds County receives approximately 33.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 82ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Celery to ensure they mature before fall.

Edmunds County, SD (Zone 4a) Short season
141 days
Last Spring Frost May 10
141 growing days
First Fall Frost September 28

Edmunds County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.4-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (4 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 20 Transplant: May 1 🍅 Harvest: Jul 24 – Sep 18
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (1 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 29 Transplant: May 10 🍅 Harvest: Aug 2 – Sep 27
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (3 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 7 Transplant: May 19 🍅 Harvest: Aug 11 – Oct 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.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
You supply
0.6″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 747 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Celery needs ~1,150 GDD — county provides 1,621 GDD Excellent fit

Celery Planting Timeline โ€” Edmunds County, SD

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 6 Jul 6 โ€“ Jul 20
Harvest August 2 Aug 2 โ€“ Sep 27

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 4a

Growing Season

141 days

Growing Tips for Edmunds 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 Edmunds County, SD?

Edmunds County is in Zone 4a 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 Edmunds County, SD?

Edmunds County, South Dakota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 10 and first fall frost is September 28.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Edmunds County gardeners in Zone 4a 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 Edmunds County, SD. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.