How to Grow Celery

Start celery indoors about 10–12 weeks before the expected last spring frost. The seeds are tiny and slow to germinate, often taking two to three weeks, so celery should be started earlier than most vegetable transplants.

Set hardened plants outdoors near the last frost once the weather is reasonably settled. Celery tolerates cool conditions, but prolonged exposure to cold after transplanting can cause premature flowering instead of good stalk formation.

Press the seeds onto the surface of moist seed-starting mix and cover them only lightly. Keep the surface evenly moist and provide gentle warmth until seedlings emerge.

Once plants are established, give them bright light and steady moisture. Move crowded seedlings into individual containers if needed, then harden them gradually before planting outdoors. Space plants about 8–12 inches apart, with enough room between rows for airflow and harvest. Celery transplants successfully, but young plants need careful handling and should never be allowed to dry out.

Choose a site with full sun to light afternoon shade and deep, well-drained soil enriched with finished compost. Celery needs more consistent moisture than most garden vegetables and becomes tough or stringy when growth is interrupted.

Water deeply whenever rainfall is lacking and mulch once the soil has warmed to hold moisture, suppress weeds, and protect soil structure. Maintain balanced fertility throughout the long growing season, but avoid sudden flushes of soft, overly lush growth.

Choose a site with full sun to light afternoon shade and deep, well-drained soil enriched with finished compost. Celery needs more consistent moisture than most garden vegetables and becomes tough or stringy when growth is interrupted.

Water deeply whenever rainfall is lacking and mulch once the soil has warmed to hold moisture, suppress weeds, and protect soil structure. Maintain balanced fertility throughout the long growing season, but avoid sudden flushes of soft, overly lush growth.

Celery provides fiber, vitamin K, folate, potassium, and smaller amounts of vitamin C. Its stalks and leaves also contain aromatic plant compounds and flavonoids.

Use the stalks raw, braised, roasted, sautéed, or added to soups, stocks, stuffing, and stews. The leaves have a stronger flavor and make a useful seasoning for broths, salads, sauces, and herb mixtures.

Aphids, leafminers, slugs, cutworms, and plant bugs may feed on celery leaves or hide within the folded stalks. Inspect plants regularly, remove damaged foliage, and maintain flowering habitat nearby for beneficial insects.

Crop rotation, generous spacing, clean beds, and watering near the soil help reduce leaf spots and rots. Uneven moisture may also cause the inner leaves to turn brown or black, so steady watering is one of the best forms of prevention.

Celery is an insect-pollinated biennial. It normally produces stalks during its first season, then flowers after exposure to winter cold.

Save seed from several healthy, true-to-type, open-pollinated plants. Grow only one flowering celery variety nearby or provide generous isolation. Overwinter selected plants in the garden where winters are mild, or lift and store them in cool, humid conditions before replanting in spring.

Second-year plants produce tall stems topped with white flower clusters. Harvest the seed heads as they turn tan and the seeds become brown and dry. Finish drying them under cover, rub the heads apart, remove the chaff, and store the fully dry seed in a labeled container in a cool, dark place.

• Start seeds early and expect slow germination.
• Keep seedlings evenly moist from the beginning.
• Avoid prolonged cold after transplanting.
• Mulch well so the root zone does not dry out.
• Harvest outer stalks first for a longer picking season.