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When to Plant Celeriac in Lincoln County, WI

Lincoln County, Wisconsin Zone 4a April

What to do in April

A quick April briefing for Lincoln County, Wisconsin gardeners — what's urgent, what's next, and what can wait.

Avg. last frost May 19
Avg. first frost September 28
Soil temp (4") 42°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 13.3 hrs
Before May arrives, get these ready
  • Transplants going out: celeriac
  • Direct-sowing: 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.

Lincoln County, Wisconsin is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 19 and the first fall frost is September 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 132 days.

At an elevation of 1,129 feet, Lincoln County receives approximately 37.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 81°F, so choose short-season varieties of Celeriac to ensure they mature before fall.

Lincoln County, WI (Zone 4a) Short season
132 days
Last Spring Frost May 19
132 growing days
First Fall Frost September 28

Lincoln County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.2-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 1 Transplant: May 13 🍅 Harvest: Aug 26 – Sep 30
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 7 Transplant: May 19 🍅 Harvest: Sep 1 – Oct 6
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 21 Transplant: Jun 2 🍅 Harvest: Sep 15 – Oct 20

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 Lincoln County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.2–7.2) overlaps with Celeriac's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.6%) — 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
1.2″/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 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 3.9" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3.9" 4.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3.9" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3.9" 3.7" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Sep 3.9" 2.9" 1" 💧 Light watering
Oct 2.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Lincoln 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 ~1,182 GDD — county provides 1,419 GDD Good fit

Celeriac Planting Timeline — Lincoln County, WI

Celeriac Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 7 Apr 7 – Apr 21
Transplant Outdoors May 19 May 19 – Jun 2
Direct Sow May 12 May 12 – Jun 2
Harvest September 1 Sep 1 – Oct 6
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 Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
July Fall Sowing
August
September Harvest
October Harvest
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: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 4a

📆 Growing Season

132 days in Lincoln County

Growing Tips for Celeriac in Lincoln County

Direct sow Celeriac outdoors after May 19 in Lincoln County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 132.0-day growing season in Lincoln County is tight for Celeriac (100.0-120.0 days to maturity). Start indoors and choose early-maturing varieties.

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 Lincoln County, WI?

Lincoln County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 19. Plan your Celeriac planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Lincoln County, WI?

Lincoln County, Wisconsin is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 19 and first fall frost is September 28.

🌱

Your Lincoln County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Lincoln County (Zone 4a). 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 Lincoln County, WI. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.

Sources & credits

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