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When to Plant Celeriac in Curry County, NM

Curry County, New Mexico Zone 7a June

Your June gardening checklist

Your garden in Curry County, New Mexico is working on a schedule, even when you're not. Here's where you should be this June.

Avg. last frost April 16
Avg. first frost October 23
Soil temp (4") 68°F
Watering Critical
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.3 hrs
July prep starts now
  • 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.

Curry County, New Mexico is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 16 and the first fall frost is October 23, giving you a growing season of approximately 190 days.

At an elevation of 3,373 feet, Curry County receives approximately 15.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 90°F, providing good warmth for Celeriac during the growing season. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring — great for early planting — but Celeriac will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Celeriac successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Curry County, NM (Zone 7a) Moderate season
190 days
Last Spring Frost April 16
190 growing days
First Fall Frost October 23

Curry County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

7.3-8.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Celeriac Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (45 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 9 Transplant: Apr 13 🍅 Harvest: Jul 27 – Aug 31
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (50 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 12 Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: Jul 30 – Sep 3
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (48 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 28 Transplant: May 2 🍅 Harvest: Aug 15 – Sep 19

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 Curry County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (7.3–8.3) is more alkaline than Celeriac prefers (6.0–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Curry County warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Celeriac will need more frequent watering and regular compost additions to retain nutrients.

Drainage

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (0.8%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting 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
0.4″/week
You supply
1.0″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,661 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 10/10 — 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 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3.9" 0.5" 3.4" 🚿 Regular watering
May 3.9" 0.4" 3.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 3.9" 0.5" 3.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 3.9" 3" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Aug 3.9" 3.1" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Sep 3.9" 2.1" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
Oct 3.9" 1.6" 2.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Curry 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 ~1,925 GDD — county provides 3,325 GDD Excellent fit

Celeriac Planting Timeline — Curry County, NM

Celeriac Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 12 Mar 12 – Mar 26
Transplant Outdoors April 16 Apr 16 – Apr 30
Direct Sow April 2 Apr 2 – Apr 23
Harvest July 30 Jul 30 – Sep 3
Fall Sowing August 14 Aug 14 – Aug 28

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 7a

📆 Growing Season

190 days in Curry County

Growing Tips for Celeriac in Curry County

Direct sow Celeriac outdoors after April 16 in Curry County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Curry County dries quickly — mulch Celeriac with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

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

Curry County receives only 16" 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 Curry County, NM?

Curry County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 16. Plan your Celeriac planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Curry County, NM?

Curry County, New Mexico is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 16 and first fall frost is October 23.

🌱

Your Curry County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Curry County (Zone 7a). 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 Curry County, NM. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.

Sources & credits

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