How to Grow Celery: A Complete Guide for a Healthy Harvest

Celery is a rewarding vegetable to grow, offering crisp, flavorful stalks perfect for fresh snacks, soups, and stews. With proper care, celery thrives in home gardens. This guide covers everything from planting and soil preparation to pest management and harvesting.

Click here to access the complete Celery and Celeriac Growing Guide (PDF) for detailed information on soil preparation, planting, and long-term care.

Celery Types and Varieties

• Pascal Celery (Most Common): Known for its long, crunchy stalks; matures in 105 to 130 days.
• Celeriac: Grown for its mild-flavored root; takes 100–120 days to mature and thrives in cooler coastal conditions.
• Leaf Celery: Offers thin, aromatic stalks with leaves ideal for seasoning.
• Golden and Self-Blanching Celery: Sweet, tender white stalks with thin petioles but shorter storage life.

Best Growing Conditions for Celery

Soil and Temperature

• Soil: Rich, fertile, and well-draining, with plenty of organic matter to retain moisture.
• Temperature: Prefers cooler temperatures around 70–75°F.
• Days to Emergence: Germination occurs in 1–3 weeks, depending on conditions.

Companion Planting

• Good Companions: Beans, onions, cabbage, spinach, lettuce, peas, and tomatoes.
• Avoid Planting With: Corn, potatoes, pumpkins, cucumbers, squash, and asters.

Watering Requirements

• Keep soil consistently moist, as celery has shallow roots.
• Use drip irrigation to maintain moisture without wetting leaves or stalks to prevent rot.

Fertilization

• Apply organic matter before planting and feed every two weeks with a balanced fertilizer or compost tea.
• Conduct a soil test and supplement nutrients accordingly.

Planting and Growing Celery

Starting Seeds Indoors:

• Sowing: Start seeds 10–12 weeks before the last frost.
• Seed Preparation: Pre-soak seeds in warm water to speed germination.
• Planting Medium: Use a pre-dampened, quality soilless mix like Quickroot.
• Germination: Press seeds lightly into the soil; seeds need light to germinate. Maintain temperatures of 70–75°F.

Transplanting:

• Harden off seedlings by reducing water and exposing them to outdoor conditions for a few days.
• Transplant when nighttime temperatures remain above 40°F, and daytime temperatures are at least 50°F.
• Space plants 10–12 inches apart, with rows spaced about 2 feet apart.

Growing Tips:

• Keep soil moist but avoid waterlogging. Use mulch to retain moisture and control weeds.
• Prevent bolting (premature flowering) by protecting plants from temperatures below 50°F with row covers.

Harvesting Celery and Celeriac

When to Harvest Celery:

• Harvest individual stalks when they are at least 6 inches tall, or cut the whole plant when the base is 3 inches in diameter.
• Harvest early for tender stalks, as over-mature celery becomes stringy.

Harvesting Celeriac:

• Harvest when the root is 3–5 inches in diameter.
• For sweeter roots, allow celeriac to experience a light frost before harvesting.
• Store celeriac in a root cellar or sand for up to 6–8 months.

Common Pests and Diseases Affecting Celery

Pests:

• Beet Armyworms: Cause holes in foliage. Hand-pick or apply organic insecticide.
• Flea Beetles: Create tiny holes in leaves. Use floating row covers and introduce beneficial insects.
• Slugs and Snails: Leave slime trails and holes. Hand-pick or apply organic slug bait.
• Root-Knot Nematodes: Cause galls on roots. Use soil solarization or organic treatments.

Diseases:

• Pink Rot: Soft, sunken lesions near stalk bases. Prevent with proper drainage and organic fungicides.
• Black Heart: Inner stalks turn black due to calcium deficiency or water stress. Correct with calcium-rich fertilizers and consistent moisture.

Common Growing Issues and Solutions

• More Leaves than Stalks: Temperature fluctuations or planting too early. Protect plants with row covers.
• Bolting (Early Flowering): Caused by cold exposure. Use row covers if temperatures drop below 50°F.
• Yellowing and Twisting Stalks: Sign of Yellow Aster disease, spread by leafhoppers. Remove infected plants immediately.
• Blackened Inner Stalks: Black Heart disorder from calcium deficiency. Maintain consistent moisture and feed with calcium-rich fertilizers.

Why Grow Celery?

• Nutrient-Rich: Packed with vitamins A, C, and K, plus fiber and antioxidants.
• Long Harvest Season: Provides multiple harvests from a single planting.
• Cool-Season Hardy: Thrives in spring and fall gardens.
• Culinary Uses: From fresh snacks to soups and stir-fries, celery is versatile in the kitchen.