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When to Plant Celeriac in Seward County, KS

Seward County, Kansas Zone 6b May

This month in Seward County, Kansas

Your garden in Seward County, Kansas is working on a schedule, even when you're not. Here's where you should be this May.

Avg. last frost April 18
Avg. first frost October 18
Soil temp (4") 65°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14 hrs
  1. Start celeriac under lights

    Give them 6–8 weeks indoors before the last frost and you'll transplant into warm soil with seedlings that are already leaping.

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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.

Seward County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 18 and the first fall frost is October 18, giving you a growing season of approximately 183 days.

At an elevation of 860 feet, Seward County receives approximately 24.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 89°F, providing good warmth for Celeriac during the growing season.

Seward County, KS (Zone 6b) Moderate season
183 days
Last Spring Frost April 18
183 growing days
First Fall Frost October 18
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Seward County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (44 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 9 Transplant: Apr 13 🍅 Harvest: Jul 27 – Aug 31
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (43 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 14 Transplant: Apr 18 🍅 Harvest: Aug 1 – Sep 5
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (43 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 29 Transplant: May 3 🍅 Harvest: Aug 16 – Sep 20

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 Seward County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–7.2) overlaps with Celeriac's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.4%). 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
0.6″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 678 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 — 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 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3.9" 2.6" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
May 3.9" 3" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Jun 3.9" 1.7" 2.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 3.9" 1.9" 2" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 3.9" 2.5" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
Sep 3.9" 2.1" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
Oct 3.9" 2.3" 1.6" 💧 Light watering
Nov 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Seward 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 3,065 GDD Excellent fit

Celeriac Planting Timeline — Seward County, KS

Celeriac Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 14 Mar 14 – Mar 28
Transplant Outdoors April 18 Apr 18 – May 2
Direct Sow April 4 Apr 4 – Apr 25
Harvest August 1 Aug 1 – Sep 5
Fall Sowing August 9 Aug 9 – Aug 23

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.9"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

100–120 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

183 days in Seward County

Growing Tips for Celeriac in Seward County

Direct sow Celeriac outdoors after April 18 in Seward 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.

Seward County receives only 24" 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 Seward County, KS?

Seward County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 18. Plan your Celeriac planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Seward County, KS?

Seward County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 18 and first fall frost is October 18.

🌱

Your Seward County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Seward 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 Seward 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.