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Growing Celery

(Apium sp.)

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

(Best months for planting Celery in Australia - sub-tropical regions)

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

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. (Show °F/in)
Space plants: 15 - 30 cm apart
Harvest in 17-18 weeks.
Compatible with: Not applicable as celery needs to be close together to encourage blanching.
Avoid growing with: Sweetcorn

Celery seedlings

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

30 Jan 12, PK (Australia - temperate climate): Gidday, I just moved 2 S'th Adelaide & have a V-small B-yd. I,ve had 2 raise my 5 x 10 plot by a foot or 2. But the 40+ day's r hell, so i,ve covered the area with white mesh & it has improved the celery that was not looking healthy at all. Most thing i have noticed is the water factor, twice a day is ex 4 them, a good watering is OK i have found. so i hope 2 eat them real soon in my slow cooking stew's lol.
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18 Dec 11, (Australia - temperate climate): my celery have been in the ground for 6 weeks and are really slow.is this normal
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25 Sep 11, Ray Gambling (Australia - temperate climate): My celery although wellestablished and ready to pick is very bitter any ideas how to cure this
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08 May 11, Roy (Australia - temperate climate): How big should the celery plants be before wrapping them in pape or enclosing them in milk cartons?r
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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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See planting calendar for these countries and climate zones

Australia - arid, Australia - cool/mountain, Australia - sub-tropical, Australia - temperate, Australia - tropical, New Zealand - cool/mountain, New Zealand - sub-tropical, New Zealand - temperate, South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical, South Africa - Humid sub-tropical, South Africa - Semi-arid, South Africa - Summer rainfall, United Kingdom - cool/temperate, United Kingdom - warm/temperate, USA - Central West Coast, USA - Maritime Northwest, USA - Mid-Atlantic, USA - North East, USA - South East and Gulf States, USA - South West, USA - Upper Midwest

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.

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