Blog

When to Plant Celery in Columbia County, WI

Celery

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.

Columbia County, Wisconsin is in USDA Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 3 and the first fall frost is October 7, giving you a growing season of approximately 157 days.

At an elevation of 692 feet, Columbia County receives approximately 35.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 81°F, so choose short-season varieties of Celery to ensure they mature before fall.

Columbia County, WI (Zone 5a) Moderate season
157 days
Last Spring Frost May 3
157 growing days
First Fall Frost October 7

Columbia County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Celery Planting Timeline — Columbia County, WI

Celery Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 29 Mar 29 – Apr 12
Transplant Outdoors May 3 May 3 – May 17
Direct Sow April 19 Apr 19 – May 10
Harvest July 26 Jul 26 – Sep 20
Fall Sowing July 29 Jul 29 – Aug 12

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

High — keep soil consistently moist

📅 Days to Maturity

80–120 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: N/A

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5a

📆 Growing Season

157 days in Columbia County

Growing Tips for Columbia 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 Columbia County, WI?

Columbia County is in Zone 5a with an average last frost of May 3. Plan your Celery planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Columbia County, WI?

Columbia County, Wisconsin is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 3 and first fall frost is October 7.

🌱

Your Columbia County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Columbia County (Zone 5a). 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 Columbia County, WI. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.