When to plant celeriac in Kansas City, Missouri

April 4 – April 18

Transplant outdoors · typical Kansas City year

Climate basis: NOAA station Kansas City Downtown AP, MO (USW00013988), 2 mi (3 km) from downtown Kansas City (ZCTA 64106 centroid), elevation 742 ft, on the 1991–2020 climate normals. Transplant celeriac outdoors from approximately the dates above, anchored to the median last spring 32°F freeze (April 4). One year in ten still freezes after April 20.

Last spring freezeApril 41-in-10 after Apr 20
First fall freezeNovember 21-in-10 before Oct 21
Frost-free season211 daysmedian at 32°F
Hard freeze, 28°Mar 26Nov 11kills even hardy greens
USDA zone6b-5 to 0°F winter low not frost timing

The Kansas City year

Start seeds indoorsJan 24 – Feb 7
Transplant outdoorsApr 4 – Apr 18
  • indoors under lights
  • in the garden
  • frost-free season
  • 1-in-10 years still freeze to Apr 20
Celeriac in Kansas City · freeze context from Kansas City Downtown AP, MO, 1991–2020 normals.

Every method, with its sources

Start seeds indoors

Jan 24 – Feb 7

The UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County (University of California Cooperative Extension) says to "Sow seed indoors as early as 10 weeks before the average last frost date in spring," so the sowing span opens ten weeks before the last frost and runs two weeks; no competing extension figure was found, so this stands without reconciliation. Anchored to the median last spring freeze (Apr 4). University of California Cooperative Extension, UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County

Transplant outdoors

Apr 4 – Apr 18

The same UC Master Gardener page states plants "can go into the garden 10-12 in. apart on the average date of last frost," a point rule that opens a 14-day transplanting span at the last frost date; the page's alternative air- and soil-temperature condition is not frost-anchored and was therefore not encoded. Anchored to the median last spring freeze (Apr 4). University of California Cooperative Extension, UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County

Variety assumption: Assumes a standard 100-to-120-day celeriac variety grown from transplants; germination is slow, so the long indoor lead time is part of the published rule rather than an added buffer.

These windows describe typical years (1991–2020 climate normals), not this year's forecast. Freezes happen outside them — especially in frost pockets, valleys, and urban edges. Watch the forecast before committing tender plants.

This week, not a typical year:
Crop rule sources (1)

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