Where And How Is Celery Grown?

Climate and Site

• Celery requires a long, cool growing season, but overly cold temperatures cause the plant to prematurely go to seed. Celery can tolerate light frost, but sends up seed if exposed to about 10 consecutive days of low temperatures. An optimum temperature range between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit allows the stalks to reach a harvestable size without setting seed. Warmer temperatures stunt plant growth. The plants require approximately four months at this growing temperature to reach maturity. Start the seeds indoors approximately six weeks before transplanting outside. Plant the seedlings outdoors early enough in spring to supply the celery with 12 weeks of weather in the optimum temperature range.

Planting

• Start celery seeds in individual seedling pots. Use a well-drained, moist potting medium made for starting seeds. When sowing the celery seeds, plant two to three seeds in each pot. Place the seeds on the soil surface, then cover them with a thin, 1/4-inch layer of potting medium. Moderate the temperature during germination so it stays near 75 degrees. Celery requires approximately two weeks to germinate. Once sprouts appear, move the seedlings to a sunny, 65- to 70-degree location. Keep the soil moist, watering when the surface begins to dry.

Soil Preparation

• Prepare your garden bed at least a week prior to transplanting. Celery requires full-day sunlight and rich, well-drained soil. Perform a soil test if you haven't grown vegetables in the bed previously. Celery grows in soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Add limestone to the bed to alter the pH if recommended by the soil test results. Celery also thrives in fertile soil. Incorporate compost into the top 2 to 4 inches of soil and apply up to 2 lbs. of 16-16-8 fertilizer to every 100 square feet of bed. The shallow roots of the celery plant cannot access nutrients deep in the soil, so incorporate amendments shallowly so they remain in the plant's root zone.

Basic Care

• Transplant the young celery seedlings at the same depth they were growing at in their pots. Set the celery plants 1 foot apart in the row and keep the rows 2 feet apart. Soil retains moisture well in cool spring weather, so only water if the top 1 to 2 inches of the bed feels dry. Keep the soil evenly moist but avoid standing water. Cover the plants with a hotcap or row cover if prolonged frost is expected. The cover keeps the air around the plants warmer and may prevent seed set or frost damage. Plastic mulches over the soil also retain warmth in the soil.