When to plant celeriac in Rochester, New York
April 24 – May 8
Transplant outdoors · typical Rochester yearClimate basis: NOAA station Rochester Gtr INTL AP, NY (USW00014768), 5 mi (7 km) from downtown Rochester (ZCTA 14604 centroid), elevation 533 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 24). One year in ten still freezes after May 8.
The Rochester year
- indoors under lights
- in the garden
- frost-free season
- 1-in-10 years still freeze to May 8
Every method, with its sources
Start seeds indoors
Feb 13 – Feb 27The 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 24). University of California Cooperative Extension, UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County
Transplant outdoors
Apr 24 – May 8The 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 24). 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.
Crop rule sources (1)
- University of California Cooperative Extension, UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County: Celeriac (accessed 2026-07-25)"Sow seed indoors as early as 10 weeks before the average last frost date in spring."