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When to Plant Celeriac in Pratt County, KS

Pratt County, Kansas Zone 6b May

Pratt County, Kansas gardeners: here's your May plan

Each item below is timed to Pratt County, Kansas's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost April 15
Avg. first frost October 24
Soil temp (4") 64°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14 hrs
  1. Fire up the seed-starting tray: celeriac

    Label every cell. You will absolutely forget which is which otherwise.

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Celeriac is a celery relative grown for its knobby, flavorful root rather than its stalks. It has a rich celery flavor and is excellent roasted, mashed, or in soups.

Pratt County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 15 and the first fall frost is October 24, giving you a growing season of approximately 192 days.

At an elevation of 852 feet, Pratt County receives approximately 21.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 89°F, providing good warmth for Celeriac during the growing season.

Pratt County, KS (Zone 6b) Moderate season
192 days
Last Spring Frost April 15
192 growing days
First Fall Frost October 24

Pratt County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (49 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 5 Transplant: Apr 9 🍅 Harvest: Jul 23 – Aug 27
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (52 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 11 Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: Jul 29 – Sep 2
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (55 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 24 Transplant: Apr 28 🍅 Harvest: Aug 11 – Sep 15

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 Pratt County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7–7.6) is more alkaline than Celeriac prefers (6.0–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Pratt County is excellent for Celeriac — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Drainage

Celeriac is a heavy drinker but your soil drains very quickly. Mulch heavily and consider drip irrigation.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.3%). Annual compost additions will help Celeriac.

How to Plant Celeriac

1"
Planting Depth
15"
Between Plants
24"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.9″/week
Rainfall provides
0.5″/week
You supply
0.8″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,439 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Celeriac

Celeriac needs approximately 0.9 inches of water per week (3.9" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Celeriac Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3.9" 1.9" 2" 🚿 Regular watering
May 3.9" 3.2" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Jun 3.9" 3.8" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
Jul 3.9" 2.9" 1" 💧 Light watering
Aug 3.9" 2.2" 1.7" 💧 Light watering
Sep 3.9" 2.2" 1.7" 💧 Light watering
Oct 3.9" 1.2" 2.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Pratt County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Celeriac 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" — every day above 50°F 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.

Celeriac needs ~1,842 GDD — county provides 3,216 GDD Excellent fit

Celeriac Planting Timeline — Pratt County, KS

Celeriac Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 11 Mar 11 – Mar 25
Transplant Outdoors April 15 Apr 15 – Apr 29
Direct Sow April 1 Apr 1 – Apr 22
Harvest July 29 Jul 29 – Sep 2
Fall Sowing August 15 Aug 15 – Aug 29

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.9"/week · 2-3 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

100–120 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

192 days in Pratt County

Growing Tips for Celeriac in Pratt County

Direct sow Celeriac outdoors after April 15 in Pratt County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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

Pratt County receives only 21" of rain annually. Celeriac needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

General growing tips

Start seeds indoors 10-12 weeks before last frost. Remove side roots as they develop to encourage a single large bulb. Harvest after a light frost for best 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 Celeriac in Pratt County, KS?

Pratt County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 15. Plan your Celeriac planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Pratt County, KS?

Pratt County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 15 and first fall frost is October 24.

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Your Pratt County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Pratt County (Zone 6b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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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 Pratt County, KS. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.