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When to Plant Celeriac in Sutton County, TX

Sutton County, Texas Zone 8a May

Top priorities for Sutton County, Texas gardeners in May

Here's what deserves your attention in Sutton County, Texas this month. Everything below is tailored to Zone 8a and timed around your local frost dates.

Avg. last frost March 28
Avg. first frost November 10
Soil temp (4") 62°F
Watering Critical
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.5 hrs
  1. Begin indoor sowing: celeriac

    Label every cell. You will absolutely forget which is which otherwise.

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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.

Sutton County, Texas is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 28 and the first fall frost is November 10, giving you a growing season of approximately 227 days.

At an elevation of 4,068 feet, Sutton County receives approximately 46 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 103°F, so Celeriac may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring — great for early planting — but Celeriac will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients.

Sutton County, TX (Zone 8a) Long season
227 days
Last Spring Frost March 28
227 growing days
First Fall Frost November 10
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Sutton County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

7.8-8.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (89 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 6 Transplant: Mar 13 🍅 Harvest: Jun 26 – Jul 31
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (87 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 21 Transplant: Mar 28 🍅 Harvest: Jul 11 – Aug 15
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (86 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 13 Transplant: Apr 17 🍅 Harvest: Jul 31 – Sep 4

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 Sutton County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (7.8–8.7) is more alkaline than Celeriac prefers (6.0–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Sutton County warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Celeriac will need more frequent watering and regular compost additions to retain nutrients.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (1.0%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting Celeriac.

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
0.9″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 119 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 — 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 3.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 3.9" 2.6" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
Apr 3.9" 1.7" 2.2" 🚿 Regular watering
May 3.9" 1" 2.9" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 3.9" 1.6" 2.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 3.9" 7.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3.9" 8.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3.9" 7.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3.9" 3.6" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Nov 3.9" 2.5" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
Dec 3.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mar–Nov in Sutton 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 ~2,998 GDD — county provides 6,185 GDD Excellent fit

Celeriac Planting Timeline — Sutton County, TX

Celeriac Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 21 Feb 21 – Mar 7
Transplant Outdoors March 28 Mar 28 – Apr 11
Direct Sow March 14 Mar 14 – Apr 4
Harvest July 11 Jul 11 – Aug 15
Fall Sowing September 1 Sep 1 – Sep 15

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.9"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

100–120 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8a

📆 Growing Season

227 days in Sutton County

Growing Tips for Celeriac in Sutton County

Direct sow Celeriac outdoors after March 28 in Sutton County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Sutton County dries quickly — mulch Celeriac with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

With summer highs reaching 103°F in Sutton 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 Sutton County, TX?

Sutton County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of March 28. Plan your Celeriac planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Sutton County, TX?

Sutton County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 28 and first fall frost is November 10.

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A 24-page printable planner built for Sutton County (Zone 8a). 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 Sutton County, TX. 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.