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Growing Celery

(Apium sp.)

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

(Best months for planting Celery in New Zealand - temperate regions)


  • Harvest in 120 days
  • 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

10 Mar 09 Barb (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Celery needs very regular watering, and regular light fertilising to keep it growing fast. I've heard that growing too slowly causes the thin stems and not so nice flavour.
18 Jun 09 Sue (Australia - tropical climate)
My 1st ever crop growing well but very green not mature yet how does it go white is there somthing i have to do like you do with leeks.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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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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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