When to Plant Celeriac
Celeriac is a half-hardy cool-season vegetable. It takes light frosts but not a hard freeze.
Start seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last spring frost, and plant out 1 to 3 weeks after the last frost. The first harvest comes about 90 to 120 days after transplanting.
Example dates
The same rules in dates for three climates, using typical frost dates. Enter your ZIP code above for the dates where you live.
| Task | Last frost Mar 15first Nov 15 | Last frost Apr 15first Oct 25 | Last frost May 15first Sep 30 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start seeds indoors | Jan 4 – 18 | Feb 4 – 18 | Mar 6 – 20 |
| Harden off | Mar 15 – 21 | Apr 15 – 21 | May 15 – 21 |
| Plant out | Mar 22 – Apr 5 | Apr 22 – May 6 | May 22 – Jun 5 |
| Harvest | Jun 20 – Aug 1 | Jul 21 – Sep 1 | Aug 20 – Oct 1 |
Growing celeriac
Grow like celery and pull off side roots and lower leaves late in the season so the bulb stays smooth.
- Spacing: 8 in apart, in rows 24 in apart. In a raised bed, 1 per sq ft at square-foot spacing.
- Days to harvest: 90 to 120 from transplanting, then about 6 weeks of picking.
- Rotation: celeriac is in the carrot family. Plant it where nothing from that family grew in the last two years. See crop rotation.
Plan your beds with these dates
Draw your beds, tap squares to plant celeriac and everything else, and get every crop's dates for your ZIP code in one calendar. Free, in your browser.
Open the garden plannerQuestions
When do I start celeriac indoors?
8 to 10 weeks before the last spring frost: with a last frost of April 15, that's Feb 4 – 18. Enter your ZIP code above for your own dates.
Can celeriac go in before the last frost?
No. Celeriac is best planted once the frosts are over: plant it out 1 to 3 weeks after the last spring frost.
How long does celeriac take to grow?
About 90 to 120 days from transplanting to the first harvest, which then lasts about 6 weeks. Varieties differ: check the seed packet.
More planting dates
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal, by station: freeze dates at 32 °F)
- WSU Extension: Pacific Northwest Gardener's Handbook, Chapter 7: Vegetable Gardening
- Iowa State University Extension and Outreach: Vegetable Planting and Harvesting Times (chart, central Iowa)