Celery
Apium graveolens
Celery is one of the three great stock vegetables — celery, carrot, and onion form the aromatic base of countless soups, stews, and stocks. It is not the easiest crop to grow, preferring a rich, moist soil and cool conditions, but the flavour of home-grown celery is in a different league from anything sold in plastic bags.
SowingStart indoors
Sunlight☀️ Full sun
Water💧💧💧 High
Days to harvest120–180
Soil pH6–7
Spacing25cm × 30cm
Planting Calendar
Sow indoorsSow outdoorsTransplantHarvest
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Self-Blanching vs Trench Celery
Self-blanching varieties are easier — plant in a block so outer plants shade inner ones. Traditional trench celery is earthed up progressively to blanch the stems and produce the finest, whitest sticks, but requires considerably more work.Sowing
Sow thinly under glass in early spring. Celery seed is tiny and needs light to germinate — do not cover with compost. Prick out when large enough to handle and harden off before planting out after all frosts.Watering
Celery demands consistent moisture — drought stress causes bolting and bitter stalks. Never allow the soil to dry out.Soil: Very rich, moisture-retentive, deeply-cultivated soil. Add generous organic matter.