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When to Plant Celeriac in Natrona County, WY

Natrona County, Wyoming Zone 5a May

Top priorities for Natrona County, Wyoming gardeners in May

A quick May briefing for Natrona County, Wyoming gardeners — what's urgent, what's next, and what can wait.

Avg. last frost May 19
Avg. first frost September 23
Soil temp (4") 38°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.5 hrs
  1. Time to transplant celeriac

    Pick a cloudy afternoon or evening to plant. Less transplant shock, and your seedlings will barely blink.

  2. Direct-sow celeriac

    These tolerate cool soil, so you're not gambling by sowing now.

Before June arrives, get these ready
  • 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.

Natrona County, Wyoming is in USDA Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 19 and the first fall frost is September 23, giving you a growing season of approximately 127 days.

At an elevation of 6,332 feet, Natrona County receives approximately 13.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 83°F, so choose short-season varieties of Celeriac to ensure they mature before fall. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Celeriac successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Natrona County, WY (Zone 5a) Short season
127 days
Last Spring Frost May 19
127 growing days
First Fall Frost September 23

Natrona County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 7 Transplant: May 12 🍅 Harvest: Aug 25 – Sep 29
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 14 Transplant: May 19 🍅 Harvest: Sep 1 – Oct 6
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 28 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 Natrona County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–7.6) is more alkaline than Celeriac prefers (6.0–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.4%). Annual compost additions will help Celeriac.

How to Plant Celeriac

1"
Planting Depth
15"
Between Plants
24"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.9″/week
Rainfall provides
0.5″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 606 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

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 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 3.9" 1.8" 2.1" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 3.9" 1.1" 2.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 3.9" 1.1" 2.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 3.9" 1.5" 2.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 3.9" 1.1" 2.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Natrona 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 1,555 GDD Good fit

Celeriac Planting Timeline — Natrona County, WY

Celeriac Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 14 Apr 14 – Apr 28
Transplant Outdoors May 19 May 19 – Jun 2
Direct Sow May 5 May 5 – May 26
Harvest September 1 Sep 1 – Oct 6
Fall Sowing July 15 Jul 15 – Jul 29

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
July Fall Sowing
August
September Harvest
October Harvest
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.9"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

100–120 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5a

📆 Growing Season

127 days in Natrona County

Growing Tips for Celeriac in Natrona County

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

Your 127.0-day growing season in Natrona 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.

Natrona County receives only 14" of rain annually. Celeriac needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

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 Natrona County, WY?

Natrona County is in Zone 5a 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 Natrona County, WY?

Natrona County, Wyoming is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 19 and first fall frost is September 23.

🌱

Your Natrona County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Natrona 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.

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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 Natrona County, WY. 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.