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Growing Celery

(Apium sp.)

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

(Best months for planting Celery in USA - Zone 5a 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 54°F and 70°F. (Show °C/cm)
Space plants: 6 - 12 inches 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

17 Mar 13, Emily (Australia - temperate climate): I need help on how to grow corn, everytime i plant seeds they always seem to shoot up then die a few days later. What am i doing wrong ?
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30 Jan 13, (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate): Hi I stay in the Free State and have a tunnel with twenty per cent shade net, any suggestions or comments on planting in February Frances
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23 Aug 12, Wilma Brown (USA - Zone 5b climate): T.his years celery was too large, and not as tender.I looked but could not find the light color I like.
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10 Mar 12, Ken (Australia - cool/mountain climate): Any tips on growing Chinese Celery from seed?
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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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17 Mar 13, Emily (Australia - temperate climate): Yes, it is normal for celery to grow slow especially if you have had alot of rain ? :)
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14 Nov 12, (Australia - temperate climate): same! mine's been in the ground about 2 months and it doesn't seem to have grown much more than it did in the first week
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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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Post a question, comment or tip about Celery

Replying to:

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

- Nicola

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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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