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When to Plant Celeriac in Jefferson County, OR

Jefferson County, Oregon Zone 7a May

May in Jefferson County, Oregon — your action list

May rewards gardeners who work with the weather, not against it. Here's how to stay in step this month in Jefferson County, Oregon.

Avg. last frost June 9
Avg. first frost September 19
Soil temp (4") 61°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.6 hrs
  1. Outdoor sowing time: celeriac

    Sow every 2 weeks for a continuous harvest. A single big planting means a single big glut.

June will be here before you know it — start on
  • Transplants going out: 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.

Jefferson County, Oregon is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is June 9 and the first fall frost is September 19, giving you a growing season of approximately 102 days.

At an elevation of 21 feet, Jefferson County receives approximately 36.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 79°F, so choose short-season varieties of Celeriac to ensure they mature before fall.

Jefferson County, OR (Zone 7a) Short season
102 days
Last Spring Frost June 9
102 growing days
First Fall Frost September 19

Jefferson County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 25 Transplant: May 30 🍅 Harvest: Sep 12 – Oct 17
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 5 Transplant: Jun 9 🍅 Harvest: Sep 22 – Oct 27
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 18 Transplant: Jun 22 🍅 Harvest: Oct 5 – Nov 9

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 Jefferson County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.3–6.7) overlaps with Celeriac's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (5.0%) — 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
1.5″/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 4.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 3.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 3.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Jun 3.9" 1.6" 2.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 3.9" 0.5" 3.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 3.9" 0.6" 3.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 3.9" 1.6" 2.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 3.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 6.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 5.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Jun–Sep in Jefferson 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 ~1,018 GDD — county provides 943 GDD Tight fit

Celeriac Planting Timeline — Jefferson County, OR

Celeriac Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors May 5 May 5 – May 19
Transplant Outdoors June 9 Jun 9 – Jun 23
Direct Sow May 26 May 26 – Jun 16
Harvest September 22 Sep 22 – Oct 27
Fall Sowing July 11 Jul 11 – Jul 25

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

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: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

102 days in Jefferson County

Growing Tips for Celeriac in Jefferson County

Direct sow Celeriac outdoors after June 09 in Jefferson County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 102.0-day growing season in Jefferson County is tight for Celeriac (100.0-120.0 days to maturity). Start indoors and choose early-maturing varieties.

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 Jefferson County, OR?

Jefferson County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of June 9. Plan your Celeriac planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Jefferson County, OR?

Jefferson County, Oregon is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is June 9 and first fall frost is September 19.

🌱

Your Jefferson County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Jefferson 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 Jefferson County, OR. 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.