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When to Plant Celeriac in Beebe Plain, VT

Orleans County, Vermont Zone 4b July

This month in Orleans County, Vermont

July rewards gardeners who work with the weather, not against it. Here's how to stay in step this month in Orleans County, Vermont.

Avg. last frost May 13
Avg. first frost October 4
Soil temp (4") 74°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 15.1 hrs
  1. Sow celeriac for an autumn harvest

    Mid-season soil is hot. Sow a bit deeper than the packet suggests to find cooler, damper ground.

Before August arrives, get these ready
  • First harvests: 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.

Beebe Plain, Vermont is in USDA Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 13 and the first fall frost is October 4, giving you a growing season of approximately 144 days.

At an elevation of 48 feet, Orleans County receives approximately 49.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 83°F, so choose short-season varieties of Celeriac to ensure they mature before fall.

Beebe Plain, VT (Zone 4b) Short season
144 days
Last Spring Frost May 13
144 growing days
First Fall Frost October 4

Beebe Plain Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.2-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Celeriac Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (4 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 27 Transplant: May 8 🍅 Harvest: Aug 21 – Sep 25
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (4 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 1 Transplant: May 13 🍅 Harvest: Aug 26 – Sep 30
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (3 days to spare)
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 Beebe Plain

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.2–6.5) is more acidic than Celeriac prefers (6.0–7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.6%). Annual compost additions will help Celeriac.

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.

Celeriac Water Budget

Plant needs
0.9″/week
Rainfall provides
1.4″/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 4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 3.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 3.9" 4.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3.9" 4.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3.9" 5.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3.9" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3.9" 4.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3.9" 4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 3.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Oct in Orleans 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 ~1,348 GDD — county provides 1,764 GDD Excellent fit

Celeriac Planting Timeline — Beebe Plain, VT

Celeriac Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 1 Apr 1 – Apr 15
Transplant Outdoors May 13 May 13 – May 27
Direct Sow May 6 May 6 – May 27
Harvest August 26 Aug 26 – Sep 30
Fall Sowing July 12 Jul 12 – Jul 26

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
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.9"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

100–120 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 4b

📆 Growing Season

144 days in Orleans County

Growing Tips for Celeriac in Beebe Plain

Direct sow Celeriac outdoors after May 13 in Orleans 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.

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 →

🌱

Your Orleans County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Orleans 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.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

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