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When to Plant Celery in Dunn County, WI

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.

Dunn County, Wisconsin is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 12 and the first fall frost is September 29, giving you a growing season of approximately 140 days.

At an elevation of 1,221 feet, Dunn County receives approximately 34.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 81ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Celery to ensure they mature before fall.

Dunn County, WI (Zone 4a) Short season
140 days
Last Spring Frost May 12
140 growing days
First Fall Frost September 29

Dunn County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.9-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (4 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 22 Transplant: May 3 🍅 Harvest: Jul 26 – Sep 20
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (0 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 31 Transplant: May 12 🍅 Harvest: Aug 4 – Sep 29
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (6 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 8 Transplant: May 20 🍅 Harvest: Aug 12 – Oct 7

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 700 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Celery needs ~1,075 GDD — county provides 1,505 GDD Excellent fit

Celery Planting Timeline โ€” Dunn County, WI

Celery Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 31 Mar 31 โ€“ Apr 14
Transplant Outdoors May 12 May 12 โ€“ May 26
Direct Sow May 5 May 5 โ€“ May 26
Fall Sowing July 7 Jul 7 โ€“ Jul 21
Harvest August 4 Aug 4 โ€“ Sep 29

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

140 days

Growing Tips for Dunn 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 Dunn County, WI?

Dunn County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 12. Plan your Celery planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Dunn County, WI?

Dunn County, Wisconsin is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 12 and first fall frost is September 29.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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