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When to Plant Celeriac in Antrim County, MI

Antrim County, Michigan Zone 5b May

What to do in May

Your Antrim County, Michigan garden is entering a new phase. Here's what's on the schedule for May and why each task matters now.

Avg. last frost May 8
Avg. first frost October 13
Soil temp (4") 56°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.6 hrs
  1. Set out celeriac seedlings

    Plant tomatoes deep — bury the stem up to the first true leaves to grow extra roots. Everything else goes in at the same depth it grew in the tray.

June will be here before you know it — start on
  • Starting indoors: 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.

Antrim County, Michigan is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 8 and the first fall frost is October 13, giving you a growing season of approximately 158 days.

At an elevation of 1,039 feet, Antrim County receives approximately 34.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 84°F, so choose short-season varieties of Celeriac to ensure they mature before fall.

Antrim County, MI (Zone 5b) Moderate season
158 days
Last Spring Frost May 8
158 growing days
First Fall Frost October 13
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Antrim County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6-6.9

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (16 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 24 Transplant: Apr 28 🍅 Harvest: Aug 11 – Sep 15
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (18 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 3 Transplant: May 8 🍅 Harvest: Aug 21 – Sep 25
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (18 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 26 Transplant: May 31 🍅 Harvest: Sep 13 – Oct 18

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 Antrim County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.0–6.9) is within Celeriac's preferred range (6.0–7.0).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.7%) — Celeriac will thrive.

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
0.9″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 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 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 3.9" 3.6" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Jun 3.9" 4.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3.9" 3.7" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Aug 3.9" 4.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3.9" 3" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Oct 3.9" 2.9" 1" 💧 Light watering
Nov 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Oct in Antrim 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 ~1,430 GDD — county provides 2,054 GDD Excellent fit

Celeriac Planting Timeline — Antrim County, MI

Celeriac Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 3 Apr 3 – Apr 17
Transplant Outdoors May 8 May 8 – May 22
Direct Sow April 24 Apr 24 – May 15
Harvest August 21 Aug 21 – Sep 25
Fall Sowing August 4 Aug 4 – Aug 18

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April Start Indoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
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 · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

100–120 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

📆 Growing Season

158 days in Antrim County

Growing Tips for Celeriac in Antrim County

Direct sow Celeriac outdoors after May 08 in Antrim 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.

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 Antrim County, MI?

Antrim County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of May 8. Plan your Celeriac planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Antrim County, MI?

Antrim County, Michigan is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 8 and first fall frost is October 13.

🌱

Your Antrim County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Antrim County (Zone 5b). 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 Antrim County, MI. 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.