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When to Plant Celeriac in Refugio County, TX

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.

Refugio County, Texas is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 16 and the first fall frost is December 6, giving you a growing season of approximately 293 days.

At an elevation of 1,000 feet, Refugio County receives approximately 68.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 103ยฐF, so Celeriac may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Celeriac root diseases.

Refugio County, TX (Zone 9a) Year-round
293 days
Last Spring Frost February 16
293 growing days
First Fall Frost December 6

Refugio County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (160 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 5 Transplant: Feb 2 🍅 Harvest: May 18 – Jun 22
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (153 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 19 Transplant: Feb 16 🍅 Harvest: Jun 1 – Jul 6
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (145 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 12 Transplant: Mar 12 🍅 Harvest: Jun 25 – Jul 30

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 Refugio County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7โ€“7.2) overlaps with Celeriac's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Refugio County is excellent for Celeriac โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.0%). Annual compost additions will help Celeriac.

How to Plant Celeriac

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

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

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.9″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/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 โ€” 2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb 3.9" 2.1" 1.8" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Mar 3.9" 3.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Apr 3.9" 8.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 3.9" 9.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3.9" 11.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3.9" 9.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3.9" 8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3.9" 5.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3.9" 4.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Nov 3.9" 2.4" 1.5" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Dec 3.9" 1.8" 2.1" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering

Water needs are for active growing months only (Febโ€“Dec in Refugio County). 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 ~2,998 GDD — county provides 8,011 GDD Excellent fit

Celeriac Planting Timeline โ€” Refugio County, TX

Celeriac Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 19 Jan 19 โ€“ Feb 2
Transplant Outdoors February 16 Feb 16 โ€“ Mar 2
Direct Sow January 26 Jan 26 โ€“ Feb 16
Harvest June 1 Jun 1 โ€“ Jul 6
Fall Sowing October 11 Oct 11 โ€“ Oct 25

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.9"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

100โ€“120 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 9a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

293 days in Refugio County

Growing Tips for Celeriac in Refugio County

Direct sow Celeriac outdoors after February 16 in Refugio County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

With summer highs reaching 103ยฐF in Refugio County, provide afternoon shade for Celeriac and water deeply in the morning.

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 Refugio County, TX?

Refugio County is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of February 16. Plan your Celeriac planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Refugio County, TX?

Refugio County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 16 and first fall frost is December 6.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Refugio County gardeners in Zone 9a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Refugio County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.