Blog

When to Plant Celtuce in Sargent County, ND

Celtuce (stem lettuce) is a Chinese vegetable grown for its thick, crunchy stem rather than its leaves. The peeled stem has a mild, cucumber-like flavor.

Sargent County, North Dakota is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 8 and the first fall frost is October 3, giving you a growing season of approximately 148 days.

At an elevation of 733 feet, Sargent County receives approximately 34.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 81ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Celtuce to ensure they mature before fall.

Sargent County, ND (Zone 4a) Short season
148 days
Last Spring Frost May 8
148 growing days
First Fall Frost October 3

Sargent County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Monthly Watering Guide for Celtuce

Celtuce needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Celtuce Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 0.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr โ€” 3.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
May 4.3" 4.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 4" 0.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.8" 0.5" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.2" 2.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov โ€” 1.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 0.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mayโ€“Oct in Sargent County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Celtuce Planting Timeline โ€” Sargent County, ND

Celtuce Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 27 Mar 27 โ€“ Apr 10
Transplant Outdoors May 8 May 8 โ€“ May 22
Direct Sow May 1 May 1 โ€“ May 22
Harvest July 10 Jul 10 โ€“ Aug 21
Fall Sowing July 11 Jul 11 โ€“ Jul 25

Plant 0.5" deep ยท 6" apart ยท Rows 12" 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 Harvest
August Harvest
September โ€”
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

60โ€“90 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: N/A

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 4a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

148 days in Sargent County

Growing Tips for Sargent County

Direct sow in spring or start indoors. Space 12 inches apart. Harvest when stems are about 1 inch in diameter. Peel the tough outer skin to reveal the tender center.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Celtuce in Sargent County, ND?

Sargent County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 8. Plan your Celtuce planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Sargent County, ND?

Sargent County, North Dakota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 8 and first fall frost is October 3.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Sargent County gardeners in Zone 4a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Sargent County, ND. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.