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When to Plant Celeriac in Chippewa County, WI

Chippewa County, Wisconsin Zone 4b May

Top priorities for Chippewa County, Wisconsin gardeners in May

Each item below is timed to Chippewa County, Wisconsin's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost May 15
Avg. first frost September 28
Soil temp (4") 53°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.7 hrs
  1. Harden off and plant celeriac

    Water the tray well an hour before you transplant. Roots slide out cleanly and settle in faster.

  2. Outdoor sowing time: celeriac

    Your soil is 53°F — warm enough for these to germinate without babying.

A few tasks this May that'll pay off in June
  • 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.

Chippewa County, Wisconsin is in USDA Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost is September 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 136 days.

At an elevation of 916 feet, Chippewa County receives approximately 40.4 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.

Chippewa County, WI (Zone 4b) Short season
136 days
Last Spring Frost May 15
136 growing days
First Fall Frost September 28
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Chippewa County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.8-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 30 Transplant: May 11 🍅 Harvest: Aug 24 – Sep 28
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 3 Transplant: May 15 🍅 Harvest: Aug 28 – Oct 2
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (0 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 Chippewa County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.8–6.7) overlaps with Celeriac's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Chippewa 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 (4.4%) — 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
1.3″/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 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 3.9" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3.9" 5.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3.9" 4.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3.9" 4.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3.9" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Chippewa 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 1,666 GDD Good fit

Celeriac Planting Timeline — Chippewa County, WI

Celeriac Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 3 Apr 3 – Apr 17
Transplant Outdoors May 15 May 15 – May 29
Direct Sow May 8 May 8 – May 29
Harvest August 28 Aug 28 – Oct 2
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 · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

100–120 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 4b

📆 Growing Season

136 days in Chippewa County

Growing Tips for Celeriac in Chippewa County

Direct sow Celeriac outdoors after May 15 in Chippewa 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 →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Celeriac in Chippewa County, WI?

Chippewa County is in Zone 4b with an average last frost of May 15. Plan your Celeriac planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Chippewa County, WI?

Chippewa County, Wisconsin is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 15 and first fall frost is September 28.

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Your Chippewa County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Chippewa 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 Chippewa County, WI. 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.