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When to Plant Celeriac in Scotts Bluff County, NE

Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska Zone 5a June

This month in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska

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

Avg. last frost May 13
Avg. first frost September 25
Soil temp (4") 64°F
Watering High
Pest pressure High
Daylight 15 hrs
  1. Start celeriac under lights

    Your window is short. These crops want several weeks of indoor growth before they go outside.

Coming up in July — start thinking about
  • Fall sowing: 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.

Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska is in USDA Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 13 and the first fall frost is September 25, giving you a growing season of approximately 135 days.

At an elevation of 1,080 feet, Scotts Bluff County receives approximately 32.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 83°F, so choose short-season varieties of Celeriac to ensure they mature before fall.

Scotts Bluff County, NE (Zone 5a) Short season
135 days
Last Spring Frost May 13
135 growing days
First Fall Frost September 25
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Scotts Bluff County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-7.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Celeriac Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 3 Transplant: May 8 🍅 Harvest: Aug 21 – Sep 25
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 8 Transplant: May 13 🍅 Harvest: Aug 26 – Sep 30
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 4 Transplant: Jun 8 🍅 Harvest: Sep 21 – Oct 26

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 Scotts Bluff County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.3–7.5) overlaps with Celeriac's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Scotts Bluff 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 (3.6%). 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.

Celeriac Water Budget

Plant needs
0.9″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
You supply
0.2″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 243 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 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 3.9" 4.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3.9" 2.2" 1.7" 💧 Light watering
Jul 3.9" 3.3" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Aug 3.9" 3.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3.9" 2.6" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
Oct 2.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Scotts Bluff 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 ~1,348 GDD — county provides 1,653 GDD Good fit

Celeriac Planting Timeline — Scotts Bluff County, NE

Celeriac Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 8 Apr 8 – Apr 22
Transplant Outdoors May 13 May 13 – May 27
Direct Sow April 29 Apr 29 – May 20
Harvest August 26 Aug 26 – Sep 30
Fall Sowing July 17 Jul 17 – Jul 31

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 Fall Sowing
August Harvest
September Harvest
October
November
December
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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: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5a

📆 Growing Season

135 days in Scotts Bluff County

Growing Tips for Celeriac in Scotts Bluff County

Direct sow Celeriac outdoors after May 13 in Scotts Bluff 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 Scotts Bluff County, NE?

Scotts Bluff County is in Zone 5a with an average last frost of May 13. Plan your Celeriac planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Scotts Bluff County, NE?

Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 13 and first fall frost is September 25.

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Your Scotts Bluff County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Scotts Bluff County (Zone 5a). 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 Scotts Bluff County, NE. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.

Sources & credits

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