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When to Plant Celery in Douglas County, KS

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.

Douglas County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 12 and the first fall frost is October 25, giving you a growing season of approximately 196 days.

At an elevation of 494 feet, Douglas County receives approximately 27.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 90ยฐF, providing good warmth for Celery during the growing season.

Douglas County, KS (Zone 6a) Moderate season
196 days
Last Spring Frost April 12
196 growing days
First Fall Frost October 25

Douglas County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Monthly Watering Guide for Celery

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

Month Celery Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 0.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 1.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 2.7" 1.6" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 4.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 4" 0.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jul 4.3" 3.9" 0.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.4" 1.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 4.3" 1.7" 2.6" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Nov โ€” 0.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 0.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

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

Celery Planting Timeline โ€” Douglas County, KS

Celery Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 8 Mar 8 โ€“ Mar 22
Transplant Outdoors April 12 Apr 12 โ€“ Apr 26
Direct Sow March 29 Mar 29 โ€“ Apr 19
Harvest July 5 Jul 5 โ€“ Aug 30
Fall Sowing August 16 Aug 16 โ€“ Aug 30

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May โ€”
June โ€”
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing Harvest
September โ€”
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

High โ€” keep soil consistently moist

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

80โ€“120 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: N/A

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

196 days in Douglas County

Growing Tips for Douglas 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

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Celery in Douglas County, KS?

Douglas County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 12. Plan your Celery planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Douglas County, KS?

Douglas County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 12 and first fall frost is October 25.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Douglas County gardeners in Zone 6a 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 Douglas County, KS. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.