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When to Plant Celery in Okanogan County, WA

Celery is a marshland plant that requires consistent moisture and cool temperatures to produce crisp, flavorful stalks. It is a rewarding but demanding garden crop.

Okanogan County, Washington is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 13 and the first fall frost is September 26, giving you a growing season of approximately 136 days.

At an elevation of 3,788 feet, Okanogan County receives approximately 21.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 83ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Celery to ensure they mature before fall.

Okanogan County, WA (Zone 5b) Short season
136 days
Last Spring Frost May 13
136 growing days
First Fall Frost September 26

Okanogan County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.4-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Monthly Watering Guide for Celery

Celery needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Celery Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 2.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 2.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr โ€” 1.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
May 4.3" 1.3" 3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jun 4.3" 0.7" 3.6" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 0.3" 4" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 0.4" 3.9" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Sep 4.3" 0.7" 3.6" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Oct โ€” 1.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Nov โ€” 3.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 3.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mayโ€“Sep in Okanogan County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Celery Planting Timeline โ€” Okanogan County, WA

Celery Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 8 Apr 8 โ€“ Apr 22
Transplant Outdoors May 13 May 13 โ€“ May 27
Direct Sow April 29 Apr 29 โ€“ May 20
Harvest August 5 Aug 5 โ€“ Sep 30
Fall Sowing July 18 Jul 18 โ€“ Aug 1

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

High โ€” keep soil consistently moist

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

80โ€“120 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: N/A

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

136 days in Okanogan County

Growing Tips for Okanogan County

Start seeds indoors 10-12 weeks before last frost. Keep soil consistently moist and never let it dry out. Blanch stalks by mounding soil or using collars for milder 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 Celery in Okanogan County, WA?

Okanogan County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of May 13. Plan your Celery planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Okanogan County, WA?

Okanogan County, Washington is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 13 and first fall frost is September 26.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Okanogan County gardeners in Zone 5b 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 Okanogan County, WA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.