Family: Apiaceae
Binomial name: Apium graveolens
Life Cycle: Biennial (usually grown as an annual)
Most varieties of celery are grown for their edible stalks. Leaf celery is grown in the same way as celery but the leaves are eaten instead of the stalks. Celeriac is the same species as celery but is grown as a root vegetable.
Celery can be grown year-round in most climates. Avoid planting in extremely hot or cold weather which can affect germination and growth. Use the table below to identify the best time of year to sow celery in your climate.
JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cool | ||||||||||||
Temperate | ||||||||||||
Sub-Tropical | ||||||||||||
Tropical | ||||||||||||
Arid |
Celery plants are best grown in full sun or part shade. Choose a location that will receive at least 3 hours of full sun each day.
Celery plants need a well drained soil enriched with plenty of organic matter. Prepare soil by weeding it thoroughly, digging it over to loosen it and adding aged animal manure or compost. Keep the area free of weeds until planting.
Celery plants can be grown in containers. If possible choose a variety that’s recommended for container growing. Use a good quality potting mix and make sure your container is large enough for mature plants; a minimum of 20 litres is recommended for celery. During the growing season, keep in mind that container grown plants may need additional fertiliser to encourage healthy growth.
Celery seeds do not require any treatment (eg soaking, stratification) before sowing.
Celery seeds grow best when they are raised in trays or other containers and transplanted to the garden once established.
Celery may bolt if seedlings are exposed to cool weather. Do not transplant seedlings or sow seeds outside in very cool temperatures.
Tip: Celery seeds are quite small. Handle them carefully to avoid them blowing away or being washed away. Mix seeds with sand or fine potting mix prior to sowing or use a seed dispenser, damp toothpick or tweezers to help space them evenly. Press lightly into the surface after sowing so that the seeds make good contact with the soil. Take extra care to make sure seeds and seedlings don’t dry out. Read more about sowing small seeds here.
Celery plants need regular watering during the growing season. Do not let soil dry out; keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water deeply in the early morning or late afternoon. Avoid watering the leaves of plants to avoid fungal diseases. Learn more about watering here.
If soil was well prepared no extra fertiliser should be necessary. In poor soil or to give your plants an extra boost, application of a balanced fertiliser or one formulated for fruit and vegetables can be beneficial:
Celery plants can be blanched to improve tenderness and flavour. Exclude light around plants by hilling soil up around their bases, mulching thickly with straw or placing opaque containers around the plant. Learn more about blanching here.
Celery should be ready to harvest in approximately 120-140 days.
Celery stems are ready to harvest when they are large enough to eat. Harvest the outside stems first, leaving some in the centre of the plant for future growth. Harvest individual stems by pulling and twisting them gently from the base to separate them from the plant. Harvest whole plants by cutting them at ground level.
Celery is best eaten soon after it is harvested. Celery can be stored short term in a perforated plastic bag in the fridge.
Leaf celery only - Harvest the stalks and leaves as needed, cutting the leaves to separate them from the stalks. The stalks can be eaten but are usually discarded as they are fibrous. Leaf celery is best eaten soon after it is harvested. Leaf celery can be stored short term in a perforated bag in the fridge. Leaves can also be dried for long term storage.
Like all plants, celery is susceptible to some pests, diseases and other problems. Below is a list of the most common problems gardeners encounter when growing celery plants: