How to Grow Celery in Central Florida

The University of Florida IFAS Extension considers land between state roads 40 and 70 central to the state, an area known for it mild, sub-tropical climate and sparsely fertile, sandy soil. Central Florida also falls into U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 10, growing zones ideal for forgiving temperate-zone vegetables, such as celery (Apium graveolens). Celery, which thrives in USDA zones 2 through 10, needs a lot of feeding to produce optimal yields, and you have to fertilize doubly to compensate for central Florida’s poor soil. Celery does best if you prep the soil with compost and spread your fertilization out over the growing season to prevent burning the plants.

Soil pH test
Dolomitic lime or elemental sulfur (optional)
Fork or rotary tiller
2-mil-thick polyethylene sheeting
Aged manure or plant-based compost
Granular, water-soluble 6-6-6 fertilizer
Drop spreader
Bark chips, shredded bark or shredded leaves (optional)
70-percent Neem oil concentrate
15-percent bacillus thuringiensis concentrate
Spray bottle

Instructions

- 1
  Test your soil’s pH at least one year before you plant your celery. Amend the soil with the test’s recommended amounts of dolomitic lime or elemental sulfur to modify the soil pH to between 5.8 and 6.3 if it falls out that range.
- 2
  Cultivate an area of soil that receives full sunlight and measures at least 30 inches wide to a depth of 8 to 10 inches using a fork or rotary tiller in July. Stretch a sheet of 2-mil-thick, clear polyethylene over the soil and bury the edges. Keep the polyethylene on the soil for six weeks to sterilize it.
- 3
  Remove the polyethylene after six weeks and spread 4 inches of plant-based compost or aged manure over the soil by hand. Distribute 1 pound of granular, water-soluble, 6-6-6 fertilizer per 100 square feet over the soil using a drop spreader. Cultivate the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches, using a fork or rotary tiller for the task.
- 4
  Plant your celery transplants 1/2 to 3/4 deep in September. Space each plant 6 to 10 inches apart in rows spaced 2 to 3 feet apart.
- 5
  Dig a 3-inch-deep, 3-inch-wide trench 3 inches to the side of each row of celery plants. Pour 1 pound of granular, water-soluble, 6-6-6 NPK fertilizer per 100 square feet of total planting area in the trenches running alongside the rows. Cover the fertilizer with excavated soil.
- 6
  Water the soil with 1 to 2 inches of water after planting. Water the soil with 1 to 2 inches of water each week if the area receives less than 1 to 2 inches of weekly rainfall.
- 7
  Mulch your soil around the celery with 1 to 2 inches of plant-based compost or bark chips, shredded leaves or shredded bark after watering. Keep the mulch 1 to 2 inches away from the bases of the plants.
- 8
  Side dress the soil alongside the leaves of each row with 2 1/2 ounces of 6-6-6 NPK fertilizer once a month during the growing season and water with 1 to 2 inches of water afterward. Pull weeds as they emerge.
- 9
  Examine your celery plants each week for aphids, whiteflies or cucumber beetles. Shake the leaves over a piece of white paper to check if aphids fall off, and look for leaf damage from beetles and whitefly larvae. If you have these pests, mix together 1 tablespoon of 70 percent Neem oil with 1 gallon of water in a spray bottle and spray them until covered.
- 10
  Check the celery plants for curled or mottled foliage and premature yellowing and dropping of leaves, signs of armyworms, cabbage loopers, leafrollers and hornworms. If you see these caterpillars, mix together 2 teaspoons of 15 percent bacillus thuringiensis concentrate with 1 gallon of water and spray the leaves until covered.
- 11
  Pull the outer celery stalks from the soil when they reach 1 foot or longer. Harvest whole plants when they grow to 3 inches or more in diameter.

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