Select your climate zone Australia - cool/mountain Australia - sub-tropical Australia - temperate Australia - tropical New Zealand - cool/mountain New Zealand - sub-tropical New Zealand - temperate United Kingdom - cool/temperate United Kingdom - warm/temperate What is my climate zone?

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
T									S	S	T

(Best months for planting Celery in Australia - cool/mountain regions)

S = Plant undercover in seed trays. T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings.

• Harvest in 17-18 weeks.
• Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed.
• Best planted at soil temperatures between 12°C and 21°C.
• Space plants: 15-30cm

Most varieties improve with blanching but there are some self-blanching varieties available. To Blanch: plant in trenches 15- 20 cm (6-8 in) deep and 20cm (8in) apart. Leave about 40 cm (17 in) between rows. Fill the trenches gradually and keep well watered as the plants grow. The plants can be lifted as needed after about 11 weeks. Alternatively wrap the plants in sleeves of paper or black plastic.

Celery needs moist fertile soil.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Celery

Chop and use raw in salad or braised in hot dishes.

Your comments and tips

18 May 10 Nicola (Australia - temperate climate)

I've had some celery plants in the plot for months - initially the older plants tasted salty but some plants are growing new stems. How long should you continue to eat them ? Thanks

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02 Jul 10 John Bee (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Nicola, Celery is a traditionally cool weather crop (if you are after the long white crunchy stems) but they do have a high demand for regular watering and fertilizing.. If they are grown too slowly the stems become bitter (which is what I think you are meaning by salty). If you want crunchy, sweet stems you do need to keep up the water and nutrients (complete type but high in nitrogen and potash). You can also grow them right thru the warmer months if you ratoon the plants when you harvest. i.e. cut off all the leaves and use them however you like. The plants will re-grow but remember to keep up the water and nutrients. I have grown celery for leave (not the stems ) right thru a warm summer and ratooned them 3-4 times with no problems. You will find you won’t get the long crunchy stems in the warmer periods but the small crunchy stems and sweet leaves are still great in cooking. So in answer to your question, along as they are growing well and the leaves/stems are sweet, then keep eating them. Cheers John.

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09 Nov 09 pete (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

its a bit hot here in north brisbane (mid november) and the ends of my celery have all wilted and dried out? i suspect its sun damage? any ideas? i have had good results growing celery before, but never seen this type of damage, it may just be cosmetic i guess....?

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29 Oct 09 Mel (Australia - temperate climate)

I planted some celery seedlings earlier this week, however the leaves are now starting to dry & shrivel up! Have been giving plenty of water. Have had two unseasonally warm days since planting though. Any suggestions? I am a novice gardener!

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20 Oct 09 Derek (Australia - temperate climate)

Jeremy, the seeds are most likely coated with the fungicide 'Thiram', there may be a pink stamp on the packet stating this. Google Thiram MSDS for further info on the chemical, I would suggest wearing gloves and washing your hands after handling the seeds. Any bright green, pink or orange seeds are likely to be treated.

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04 Oct 09 Jeremy (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I bought celery seeds from Bunnings, and they were highlighted green. Wondering if they are normally like that or they have been treated, the packet didn't indicate this. Trying to grow organic veges.

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02 Sep 09 Malcolm in Melton, Vic (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

I sowed celery seeds in 'crib' early August, transplanting today, even though its still cool.

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30 Aug 09 Sarah (Australia - temperate climate)

A good tip for growing celery is use put a milk carton (the cardboard 1lt ones) around each celery and it will keep it growing up straight and high.

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05 Jul 09 Rebecca (Australia - temperate climate)

Anyone know how to cut celery?? i was told to pull the stalks off as needed but have read to pull the whole plant out?

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21 Jun 09 Grahame (Australia - temperate climate)

You need to 'blanch' the stems if you want them to go pale Sue. I never bother but you can use newspaper wrapped around them or old milk cartons for example. I've never done it but one ways it to wrap them in newspaper and mound a bit of soil around them.

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