When to Plant Celery in Forest City, Iowa (50436)

Location

Forest City, Iowa

ZIP Code

50436

USDA Zone

Last Frost

Sunday, May 10, 2026

📅 Your 2026 Planting Dates

Start Seeds Indoors

Sunday, March 1, 2026

Transplant Outdoors

Sunday, May 24, 2026

Based on last frost Sunday, May 10, 2026 · Zone 5a

Pro tip: Start Celery seeds indoors 10 weeks before your last frost date, then transplant outdoors around Sunday, May 24, 2026.

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🌿 Plant Details

Scientific Name Apium graveolens

Days to Maturity 130 days

☀️ Growing Requirements

☀️

Sun

Full Sun

💧

Water

Regular

Seeds typically germinate in 8-28 days

Ready to Plant Celery in Forest City?

Get your seeds now so they're ready by Sunday, March 1, 2026.

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🤝 Good Companions

CosmosDaisySnapDragon

⚠️ Avoid Planting Near

CornAster

🤝

Full Companion Planting Guide for Celery

See which plants help Celery thrive, which to keep away, and raised bed layout tips →

🛠️ Supplies You'll Need

🌱 Seed Starting Trays 🪴 Seed Starting Mix 💡 Grow Lights 🌡️ Heat Mat 🪵 Raised Garden Bed 🌍 Vegetable Garden Soil 🛠️ Hand Trowel Set 🚿 Watering Can

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🌾 Seed Saving Guide

🔴 Difficult

✅ Open-pollinated — seeds grow true to parent

When to Harvest Seed

Celery is biennial — it seeds in year 2. Harvest umbels just before seeds shatter in summer.

Processing

Cut seed heads into bags, dry 2 weeks, thresh to release seeds.

Seed Viability

Up to 3 years when stored cool, dark, and dry.

Pro Tip

In cold climates, dig celery in fall, store roots in a root cellar, and replant in spring for year-2 flowering.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Celery in Forest City, Iowa? +

In Forest City (Zone 5a), start Celery seeds indoors around Sunday, March 1, 2026 and transplant outdoors around Sunday, May 24, 2026.

What is the last frost date for Forest City, Iowa? +

The average last spring frost date for Forest City, Iowa (ZIP 50436) is around Sunday, May 10, 2026. This is based on NOAA climate normals for USDA Zone 5a.

How long does Celery take to grow? +

Celery typically matures in about 130 days from transplanting. In Forest City, that means you can expect harvest around Sunday, May 24, 2026 plus 130 days.

Should I start Celery indoors or direct sow in Iowa? +

Celery should be started indoors 10 weeks before your last frost date. In Forest City, that means starting around Sunday, March 1, 2026.

📚 More Celery Planting Guides

🗺️

Celery in Iowa

Zone-by-zone breakdown · Full state guide

→ 🌡️

Zone 5a Celery Guide

All cities in your zone · Avg dates

→

Other Plants for Forest City

Blackberry Blueberry Raspberry Strawberry Basil Chamomile Chives Cilantro Dill Lavender Lemon Balm Marjoram Mint Oregano Parsley Rosemary Sage Tarragon Thyme Acorn Squash Artichoke Arugula Asparagus Beefsteak Tomato Beet Bell Pepper Bok Choy Broccoli Brussels Sprout Butternut Squash Cabbage Cantaloupe Carrot Cauliflower Cayenne Pepper Cherry Tomato Chili Pepper Collard Green Common Bean Cucumber Eggplant Endive Fennel Garlic Grape Tomato Green Bean Habanero Pepper Head Lettuce Heirloom Tomato Honeydew Melon Jalapeño Pepper Kale Kohlrabi Leaf Lettuce Leek Lima Bean Mustard Okra Onion Parsnip Pea Poblano Pepper Pole Pea Potato Pumpkin Radicchio Radish Rhubarb Roma Tomato Rutabaga Serrano Pepper Shallot Snap Pea Snow Pea Spaghetti Squash Spinach Squash Sweet Corn Sweet Potato Swiss Chard Tomato Turnip Watermelon Zucchini Sunflower Marigold Zinnia Nasturtium Cosmos Echinacea (Coneflower) Petunia Black-eyed Susan Apple Tree Pear Tree Peach Tree Plum Tree Sweet Cherry Tree Lemon Tree Borage Lemongrass Ginger Stevia Tomatillo Edamame Fava Bean Mâche Mizuna Sorrel Shishito Pepper Banana Pepper Watermelon Radish Napa Cabbage Popcorn Broccoli Raab Catnip Valerian Lemon Verbena Bee Balm Anise Lovage Chervil Summer Savory Dahlia Snapdragon Pansy Sweet Pea Morning Glory Hollyhock Larkspur Bachelor Button Columbine Impatiens Salvia (Annual) Sweet Alyssum Celosia Lupine Verbena Elderberry Grape Vine Red Currant Gooseberry Serviceberry Fig Tree Avocado Tree Persimmon Tree Olive Tree

Growing Celery in Zone 5a

Celery (Apium graveolens) is a popular garden vegetable. In Forest City, Iowa, which is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a, you should start seeds indoors around Sunday, March 1, 2026.

Your average last frost date is Sunday, May 10, 2026. Plan to transplant your Celery seedlings outdoors around Sunday, May 24, 2026, about 2 weeks after your last frost date.