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When to Plant Celery in Burleson County, TX

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.

Burleson County, Texas is in USDA Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is March 6 and the first fall frost is November 20, giving you a growing season of approximately 259 days.

At an elevation of 154 feet, Burleson County receives approximately 59.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly clay soil. Summer highs average 93ยฐF, providing good warmth for Celery during the growing season. Clay soil retains moisture well for Celery, but amend with compost to improve drainage and prevent root rot. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Celery root diseases.

Burleson County, TX (Zone 8b) Long season
259 days
Last Spring Frost March 6
259 growing days
First Fall Frost November 20

Burleson County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Clay

Soil pH

7-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (120 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 22 Transplant: Feb 26 🍅 Harvest: May 21 – Jul 16
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (119 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 30 Transplant: Mar 6 🍅 Harvest: May 29 – Jul 24
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (114 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 1 Transplant: Apr 5 🍅 Harvest: Jun 28 – Aug 23

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 Burleson County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (7.0โ€“7.8) is more alkaline than Celery prefers (6.0โ€“7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

Heavy clay soil (44% clay) in Burleson County compacts easily and drains slowly. Amend with compost and avoid working soil when wet.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Celery.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.1%). Annual compost additions will help Celery.

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

3
successive plantings in your 259-day season

Sow every 9.1 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 23 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 11.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.3″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 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€” 1.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 2.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 5.6" 4.1" 1.5" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Apr 5.6" 7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 5.6" 7.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 5.6" 8.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 5.6" 6.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 5.6" 7.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 5.6" 5.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 5.6" 4.2" 1.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov 5.6" 2.1" 3.5" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Dec โ€” 1.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Marโ€“Nov in Burleson 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 ~1,975 GDD — county provides 5,115 GDD Excellent fit

Celery Planting Timeline โ€” Burleson County, TX

Celery Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 30 Jan 30 โ€“ Feb 13
Transplant Outdoors March 6 Mar 6 โ€“ Mar 20
Direct Sow February 20 Feb 20 โ€“ Mar 13
Harvest May 29 May 29 โ€“ Jul 24
Fall Sowing September 11 Sep 11 โ€“ Sep 25

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January Start Indoors
February Start Indoors Direct Sow
March Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
April โ€”
May Harvest
June Harvest
July Harvest
August โ€”
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 Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

80โ€“120 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: too_alkaline

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 8b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

259 days in Burleson County

Growing Tips for Celery in Burleson County

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

With Burleson County's clay soil (44% clay), work in 3-4 inches of compost before planting Celery. Avoid tilling when soil is wet to prevent compaction.

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

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 Burleson County, TX?

Burleson County is in Zone 8b with an average last frost of March 6. Plan your Celery planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Burleson County, TX?

Burleson County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is March 6 and first fall frost is November 20.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Burleson County gardeners in Zone 8b 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 Burleson County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.