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When to Plant Celeriac in Haakon County, SD

Haakon County, South Dakota Zone 4b May

Your May gardening checklist

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

Avg. last frost May 14
Avg. first frost September 28
Soil temp (4") 54°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.6 hrs
  1. Plant out celeriac

    Pick a cloudy afternoon or evening to plant. Less transplant shock, and your seedlings will barely blink.

  2. Seed celeriac outdoors

    Keep the top inch of soil moist until germination — a gentle morning watering for 5–7 days does the job.

To set up a strong June, finish these tasks
  • Starting indoors: 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.

Haakon County, South Dakota is in USDA Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 14 and the first fall frost is September 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 137 days.

At an elevation of 1,097 feet, Haakon County receives approximately 22.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 81°F, so choose short-season varieties of Celeriac to ensure they mature before fall.

Haakon County, SD (Zone 4b) Short season
137 days
Last Spring Frost May 14
137 growing days
First Fall Frost September 28
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Haakon County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 28 Transplant: May 9 🍅 Harvest: Aug 22 – Sep 26
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 2 Transplant: May 14 🍅 Harvest: Aug 27 – Oct 1
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 14 Transplant: May 26 🍅 Harvest: Sep 8 – Oct 13

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 Haakon County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–7.5) overlaps with Celeriac's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.1%) — Celeriac will thrive.

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
0.7″/week
You supply
0.6″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 703 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 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 3.9" 2.6" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
Jun 3.9" 1.6" 2.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 3.9" 1.9" 2" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 3.9" 2.3" 1.6" 💧 Light watering
Sep 3.9" 2" 1.9" 💧 Light watering
Oct 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Haakon 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 ~1,182 GDD — county provides 1,472 GDD Good fit

Celeriac Planting Timeline — Haakon County, SD

Celeriac Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 2 Apr 2 – Apr 16
Transplant Outdoors May 14 May 14 – May 28
Direct Sow May 7 May 7 – May 28
Harvest August 27 Aug 27 – Oct 1
Fall Sowing July 6 Jul 6 – Jul 20

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.9"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

100–120 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 4b

📆 Growing Season

137 days in Haakon County

Growing Tips for Celeriac in Haakon County

Direct sow Celeriac outdoors after May 14 in Haakon County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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

Haakon County receives only 22" 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 Haakon County, SD?

Haakon County is in Zone 4b with an average last frost of May 14. Plan your Celeriac planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Haakon County, SD?

Haakon County, South Dakota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 14 and first fall frost is September 28.

🌱

Your Haakon County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Haakon County (Zone 4b). 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 Haakon County, SD. 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.