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When to Plant Celeriac in Avoyelles Parish, LA

Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana Zone 9a May

Your May gardening checklist

If you only do a handful of things in the garden this May, make it these. They're sequenced around your zone's frost timing.

Avg. last frost February 25
Avg. first frost November 26
Soil temp (4") 74°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.6 hrs
Get ahead of June
  • First harvests: celeriac

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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.

Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 25 and the first fall frost is November 26, giving you a growing season of approximately 274 days.

At an elevation of 231 feet, Avoyelles Parish receives approximately 48.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 93°F, providing good warmth for Celeriac during the growing season.

Avoyelles Parish, LA (Zone 9a) Year-round
274 days
Last Spring Frost February 25
274 growing days
First Fall Frost November 26

Avoyelles Parish Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (136 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 17 Transplant: Feb 14 🍅 Harvest: May 30 – Jul 4
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (134 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 28 Transplant: Feb 25 🍅 Harvest: Jun 10 – Jul 15
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (138 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 12 Transplant: Mar 12 🍅 Harvest: Jun 25 – Jul 30

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 Avoyelles Parish

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.3–6.7) is within Celeriac's preferred range (6.0–7.0).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.9%). Annual compost additions will help Celeriac.

How to Plant Celeriac

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

Fall planting: Sow 8 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.9″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.2″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 401 gal / 100 sq ft

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 4.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 3.9" 4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Mar 3.9" 4.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 3.9" 3.8" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
May 3.9" 4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3.9" 4.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3.9" 4.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3.9" 4.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3.9" 3.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3.9" 2.9" 1" 💧 Light watering
Nov 3.9" 3.2" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Dec 3.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Feb–Nov in Avoyelles Parish). 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 ~2,172 GDD — county provides 5,431 GDD Excellent fit

Celeriac Planting Timeline — Avoyelles Parish, LA

Celeriac Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 28 Jan 28 – Feb 11
Transplant Outdoors February 25 Feb 25 – Mar 11
Direct Sow February 4 Feb 4 – Feb 25
Harvest June 10 Jun 10 – Jul 15
Fall Sowing October 1 Oct 1 – Oct 15

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.9"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

100–120 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 9a

📆 Growing Season

274 days in Avoyelles Parish

Growing Tips for Celeriac in Avoyelles Parish

Direct sow Celeriac outdoors after February 25 in Avoyelles Parish 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.

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 Avoyelles Parish, LA?

Avoyelles Parish is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of February 25. Plan your Celeriac planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Avoyelles Parish, LA?

Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 25 and first fall frost is November 26.

🌱

Your Avoyelles Parish Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Avoyelles Parish (Zone 9a). 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 Avoyelles Parish, LA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

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