Growing Celery

Apium sp. : Apiaceae / the umbelliferae family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
      S                
        T T T          

(Best months for growing Celery in Australia - 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 54°F and 70°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 6 - 12 inches apart
  • Harvest in 17-18 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Not applicable as celery needs to be close together to encourage blanching.
  • Avoid growing close to: Sweetcorn

Your comments and tips

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13 Feb 23, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Maybe leave until March to plant out in the garden. 34 degreees here today and the last 2 days. Heavy rain can be a problem this time of year. Had 3.5
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02 Nov 22, Miroslav Andjic (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, what does the word "blanching" mean in the above context: (Compatible with (can grow beside): Not applicable as celery needs to be close together to encourage blanching)? Thanks, Miroslav Andjic
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07 Nov 22, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
If you plant celery close together the stalks are protected from the sunlight and the outside leaves are a light green/white colour - blanched. Plant them far apart and the stalks are darker green and a bitter.
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03 Nov 22, Liz (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Blanching celery means that a portion of the stem is white instead of green.
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03 Nov 22, Miroslav Andjic (Australia - temperate climate)
Thank you very much Liz.
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19 Jun 22, EC Sunshine (Australia - temperate climate)
I've never used seed for growing celery. I buy an organic/non organic bunch, chop off the base place in water and replace the water regularly and place on kitchen bench in sun for a while. Once its starts growing ( starts fast but I let it grow for a while) I then plant it. I've just pulled an amazing bunch planted undercover but northern sun that started just before the recent Sydney rain event in March. I was concerned with the flavour being watery and bland due to the soil being blanched by all the rain so left it in a bit longer when the sun came out. Amazing!!. I am now growing another one from the base of this one I just grew.
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03 Aug 22, Carol J (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Celery is originally a riparian plant - i.e. grows naturally at the edge of streams and so on - so all the rain is their happy place.
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23 Jun 22, Michael (Australia - temperate climate)
Hello all, I agree with EC sunshine coast and Rokky, I have both seedling plants (garden centre bought) growing nicely in raised garden beds since the beginning of May (temperate climate -Adelaide, day temps range from 14 - 18 currently overnight temps 6- 10 . I started planting Celery bottoms in June from supermarket bought celery bought weekly. Both lots are growing really well. All are planted close together, to promote blanching and structure, some are stringless and some regular stringy type. Now that we are past the Solstice hopefully the longer days will encourage good growth. I treat the growing beds with Bicarb water solution for disease and sprinkle the growing beds with Blood and Bone for plant growth and to keep the local possum away.
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04 Sep 22, Teresa (Australia - temperate climate)
Michael, your mention of bicarb is interesting. Would you mind sharing what proportions you use and how often? Thankyou. Teresa.
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28 May 22, Rokky (Australia - temperate climate)
Find it strange to plant out celery in November, December when celery is best grown in winter especially flavoursome when it’s hit by the frost
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Showing 11 - 20 of 114 comments
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Trying to germinate celery seeds needs a lot of care and time. You need to have a very fine seed raising mixture. Use a sprayer to wet the soil not a hose. You need to plant the right time. The seed is small and takes 2-3 weeks to germinate, so means you need to have the soil moist but not wet for all that time. Unless you are prepared to do this then you will have failure. I would normally suggest buying seedlings from Bunnings/nursery but for 6 years I bought celery and end up with some other thing different - Italian parsley??? so I don't try any more.

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