VeggieHarvest

Celery is a cool-season crop half-hardy to frost and light freezes.

Where to grow Celery

Where there is long, steady, cool growing season of about 4 months, and no hot dry summers.

Reccomeneded Varieties of Celery

There are two basic types of celery: Self-blanching and blanching. Self Blanching varieties are much easier to grow, as they can be grown in flat soil without trenches. Their harvest, however, is earlier and more limited. For celery that needs blanching, (1) plant in the center of 18" wide trenches, (2) remove suckers midseason and wrap each stalk bunches with brown paper, newspaper, or cardboard to prevent soil from getting between the stalks, (3) fill the trench with soil up to the bottom of the leaves 2 months before the harvest, and (4) keep mounding the soil around the base of the plant every 3 weeks. Make sure the mound is sloped to help drainage.

Golden Self-blanching; Summer Pascal;

Soil for Celery

More than climate, the soil quality will determine whether it is practical to grow celery. Farmers used to consider river-bottom muck soils "celery soil." And that is what celery needs - highly fertile soil well enriched with compost, well-rotted manure, and peat moss. The crop needs moisture consistently, as well as high quantities of nutrients for fast growth.

Planting Celery

Germination in 2-3 weeks

When - Celery seed is usually started indoors about 10 weeks before it is time to set the plants outdoors - that is, after the soil is warm and the air temperature settled. The seed is minute and finicky, and is started in much the same manner as African violet seed, in closed containers to keep seedlings moist. Soak seeds overnight to help germination. A simpler method is to buy transplants. Transplant seedlings outside when they are 4-6 inches tall and night temperatures don't fall below 40F. Water plants before they are transplanted. Some gardeners who have a long frost-free autumn season can seed a late winter crop directly.

How - In rows 2 feet apart; with 6-8 inches between plants.

How Celery grows

Celery is a biennial that, if left for its second year would produce flowers and seed. It is harvested when immature.

Cultivating Celery

When seedlings are set out they need a quick start, which us usually provided by watering the plants with a water-soluble high-nitrogen fertilizer. Sine the plants have fine, almost hair-like roots, use a heavy mulch to keep down weeds.

Blanching Celery
Few gardeners blanch (or bleach white) celery. For those who want to experiment, select a few plants then wrap them from top to bottom with heavy paper, perhaps a brown paper bag from the grocery store cut to shape, and tied loosely with string. Only the top leaves should be allowed to shot. Blanching should be done about 2 weeks before harvest.

Harvesting Celery

3 months after transplants are set out; 4 months from seed. Cut plants at the base, just beneath the crown, with a sharp knife and remove some of the outer leaves. Celery will easily keep for several weeks if stored in a cool, dark place.

Celery Pests

Celery leaf tier - Pyrethrum or rotenone dust.

Celery worm - (larvae of the black swallowtail butterfly): Hand pick

Diseases for Celery

Early/Late blight - Buy quality seed and transplants; clean up the garden after each crop is harvested.