Celery

Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Celery

Celery is a long-season crop that can be tricky to grow—some might say, the trickiest of all. Here’s how to grow celery in your garden.
Celery likes fertile soil, cool temperatures, and constant moisture. It will not tolerate heat and can be hard to transplant. Summer crops in the north and winter crops in the south make celery a year-round producer. All the hard work is worth it when you finally get to harvest crunchy, green stalks!

Planting

• Celery seeds should always be started indoors for the best success rate, 8 to 10 weeks before the average last frost date for your area. (See local frost dates.)
• For summer gardeners, a late summer direct sowing is possible. Be sure that temps will stay between 55 and 70ºF throughout the growing period.
• The National Gardening Association recommends soaking seeds in warm water overnight prior to planting, to reduce germination time.
• Work organic fertilizer or compost into the soil prior to planting. (Learn more about soil amendments and preparing soil for planting.)
• Harden off seedlings before transplanting by reducing water slightly, and keeping them outdoors for a couple hours a day.
• Transplant seedlings 10 to 12 inches apart, direct sow seeds ¼ inch deep. These will need to be thinned to 12 inches apart when they reach about six inches high.
• Mulch and water directly after planting.

Care

• Celery is a heavy feeder and requires lots of water. Make sure to provide plenty of water during the entire growing season, especially during hot, dry weather.
• If celery does not get enough water, the stalks will be dry and small.
• Add plenty of compost and mulch around the plants to retain moisture.
• Fertilize regularly. Add mulch as needed, to help retain soil moisture and add nutrients.
• Tie growing celery stalks together to keep them from sprawling.

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