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When to Plant Celosia in Williams County, OH

Williams County, Ohio Zone 6a June

Top priorities for Williams County, Ohio gardeners in June

June rewards gardeners who work with the weather, not against it. Here's how to stay in step this month in Williams County, Ohio.

Avg. last frost April 29
Avg. first frost October 14
Soil temp (4") 68°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 15 hrs
  1. Get celosia seeds going inside

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

A few tasks this June that'll pay off in July
  • First harvests: celosia

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Celosia (Celosia argentea) encompasses the vivid cockscomb (cristata) and feathery plumed (plumosa) types that explode with color in summer heat. Drought-tolerant and disease-resistant, they thrive in the hottest parts of the season and produce long-lasting blooms both in the garden and as cut or dried flowers. A reliable filler in sunny annual beds.

Williams County, Ohio is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 29 and the first fall frost is October 14, giving you a growing season of approximately 168 days.

At an elevation of 1,057 feet, Williams County receives approximately 39.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 86°F, providing good warmth for Celosia during the growing season.

Annual Blooms in Summer Pollinator-friendly Good for cutting
Williams County, OH (Zone 6a) Moderate season
168 days
Last Spring Frost April 29
168 growing days
First Fall Frost October 14
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Williams County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.7-6.9

Drainage

Well Drained

Celosia Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 22 Transplant: May 3 🌸 Bloom: Jul 5 – Oct 18
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 25 Transplant: May 6 🌸 Bloom: Jul 8 – Oct 21
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 11 Transplant: May 23 🌸 Bloom: Jul 25 – Nov 7

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 Williams County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.7–6.9) overlaps with Celosia's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (5.1%) — Celosia will thrive.

How to Plant Celosia

0.1"
Planting Depth
9"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Celosia

3
successive plantings in your 168-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 16 to harvest before frost.

Celosia Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Celosia

Celosia needs approximately 0.5 inches of water per week (2.2" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Celosia Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.2" 4.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 4.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 4.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 4.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 4.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 3.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 3.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 3.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Williams County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Celosia 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.

Celosia needs ~1,088 GDD — county provides 2,436 GDD Excellent fit

Celosia Planting Timeline — Williams County, OH

Celosia Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 25 Mar 25 – Apr 8
Transplant Outdoors May 6 May 6 – May 20
Direct Sow May 6 May 6 – May 27
Bloom July 8 Jul 8 – Oct 21

Plant 0.1" deep · 9" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

60–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

168 days in Williams County

Growing Tips for Celosia in Williams County

Direct sow Celosia outdoors after April 29 in Williams County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

General growing tips

Start seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before last frost, or direct-sow after soil warms above 60°F. Does not transplant well from large pots — sow in small cells or direct-sow. Needs full sun and warm soil; cold stress causes stunting. Pinch first bloom to encourage branching. Water at the base; wet foliage encourages fungal issues. Excellent dried flower — harvest before seeds set for the best color retention.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Celosia in Williams County, OH?

Williams County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 29. Plan your Celosia planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Williams County, OH?

Williams County, Ohio is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 29 and first fall frost is October 14.

🌱

Your Williams County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Williams County (Zone 6a). 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 Williams County, OH. 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.