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When to Plant Celery in Lincoln County, OR

Lincoln County, Oregon Zone 9a May

Top priorities for Lincoln County, Oregon gardeners in May

Your garden in Lincoln County, Oregon is working on a schedule, even when you're not. Here's where you should be this May.

Avg. last frost April 19
Avg. first frost October 31
Soil temp (4") 69°F
Watering High
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.6 hrs
  1. Begin indoor sowing: celery

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

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Celery is a marshland plant that requires consistent moisture and cool temperatures to produce crisp, flavorful stalks. It is a rewarding but demanding garden crop.

Lincoln County, Oregon is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is April 19 and the first fall frost is October 31, giving you a growing season of approximately 195 days.

At an elevation of 267 feet, Lincoln County receives approximately 41.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 83°F, so choose short-season varieties of Celery to ensure they mature before fall.

Lincoln County, OR (Zone 9a) Moderate season
195 days
Last Spring Frost April 19
195 growing days
First Fall Frost October 31

Lincoln County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.5-6.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (65 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 7 Transplant: Apr 4 🍅 Harvest: Jun 27 – Aug 22
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (55 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 22 Transplant: Apr 19 🍅 Harvest: Jul 12 – Sep 6
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (65 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 13 Transplant: May 11 🍅 Harvest: Aug 3 – Sep 28

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 Lincoln County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.5–6.4) is more acidic than Celery prefers (6.0–7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.9%) — Celery will thrive.

How to Plant Celery

1"
Planting Depth
15"
Between Plants
24"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 8 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Celery

2
successive plantings in your 195-day season

Sow every 9.1 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 03 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 05.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.3″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 712 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Celery

Celery needs approximately 1.3 inches of water per week (5.6" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Celery Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 6.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 5.6" 3.2" 2.4" 💧 Light watering
May 5.6" 2" 3.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 5.6" 1.5" 4.1" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 5.6" 0.6" 5" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 5.6" 0.7" 4.9" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 5.6" 1.8" 3.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 5.6" 3.8" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
Nov 6.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 5.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Celery 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.

Celery needs ~1,225 GDD — county provides 2,388 GDD Excellent fit

Celery Planting Timeline — Lincoln County, OR

Celery Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 22 Mar 22 – Apr 5
Transplant Outdoors April 19 Apr 19 – May 3
Direct Sow March 29 Mar 29 – Apr 19
Harvest July 12 Jul 12 – Sep 6
Fall Sowing September 5 Sep 5 – Sep 19

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1.3"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

80–120 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 9a

📆 Growing Season

195 days in Lincoln County

Growing Tips for Celery in Lincoln County

Direct sow Celery outdoors after April 19 in Lincoln County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Celery 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. Keep soil consistently moist and never let it dry out. Blanch stalks by mounding soil or using collars for milder 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 Celery in Lincoln County, OR?

Lincoln County is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of April 19. Plan your Celery planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Lincoln County, OR?

Lincoln County, Oregon is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is April 19 and first fall frost is October 31.

🌱

Your Lincoln County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Lincoln County (Zone 9a). 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 Lincoln 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.