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When to Plant Celeriac in Sept-Iles, QC

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.

Sept-Iles, Quebec is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 16 and the first fall frost is October 3, giving you a growing season of approximately 140 days.

At an elevation of 173 feet, Sept-Iles receives approximately 19.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly gray-brown podzol soil. Summer highs average 70ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Celeriac to ensure they mature before fall. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Celeriac successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Sept-Iles, QC (Zone 4a) Short season
140 days
Last Spring Frost May 16
140 growing days
First Fall Frost October 3

Sept-Iles Soil Profile

Soil Type

Gray-Brown Podzol

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (43 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 4 Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: Jul 29 – Sep 2
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (43 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 4 Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: Jul 29 – Sep 2
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (43 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 4 Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: Jul 29 – Sep 2

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.

How to Plant Celeriac

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

Fall planting: Sow 12 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.9″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 392 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 โ€” 0.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 0.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 1.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr โ€” 1.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
May 3.9" 2.5" 1.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 3.9" 2.7" 1.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jul 3.9" 1.9" 2" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Aug 3.9" 1.9" 2" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Sep 3.9" 1.8" 2.1" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Oct 3.9" 1.5" 2.4" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Nov โ€” 1.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mayโ€“Oct in Sept-Iles). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” 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" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF 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 ~275 GDD — county provides 350 GDD Good fit

Celeriac Planting Timeline โ€” Sept-Iles, QC

Celeriac Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 4 Apr 4 โ€“ Apr 18
Transplant Outdoors May 16 May 16 โ€“ May 30
Direct Sow May 9 May 9 โ€“ May 30
Harvest August 29 Aug 29 โ€“ Oct 3
Fall Sowing July 11 Jul 11 โ€“ Jul 25

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.9"/week ยท 1-2 times/week

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

100โ€“120 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: N/A

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 4a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

140 days in Sept-Iles

Growing Tips for Celeriac in Sept-Iles

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

Sept-Iles receives only 20" of rain annually. Celeriac needs consistent moisture โ€” 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 Sept-Iles, QC?

Sept-Iles is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 16. Plan your Celeriac planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Sept-Iles, QC?

Sept-Iles, Quebec is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 16 and first fall frost is October 3.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Sept-Iles gardeners in Zone 4a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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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 Sept-Iles, QC. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.