How to Transplant Celery

Proper transplanting is essential if you want to grow celery (Apium graveolens), because this long-season crop is commonly started indoors from seed about 10 to 12 weeks before the last frost date. Just like parsley, carrot and dill, celery belongs to the Umbelliferae family. The leaf-topped stalks can grow up to 24 inches tall and add flavor to soups and salads. Transplant the seedlings about two weeks before the last frost date in your area, when they're 4 to 6 inches tall and have three or four leaves and an established root system.

Soil testing kit
Limestone or sulfur
Compost or well-rotted manure
16-16-8 fertilizer
Spade
Rake
Organic mulch

Instructions

- 1
  Perform a soil test to determine the pH of the soil in the garden. Test the soil early in the planning process, because the recommended amendments can take one to two years to have an effect. Celery thrives in soil with a pH range between 6.0 and 7.0. Depending on the test results, spread limestone over the soil and work it into the top seven inches to raise the pH or incorporate sulfur to lower it.
- 2
  Harden off the seedlings so they can slowly acclimate to the weather. About seven to 10 days before transplanting, place the plants in a sheltered area outside for two to three hours a day, and gradually reduce the amount of water you give them.
- 3
  Slowly extend the duration the seedlings are outside and increase their exposure to sunlight as the days progress. Keep the young plants outside the entire day toward the end of the hardening-off period.
- 4
  Remove weeds, rocks and other debris from the planting site, which should receive full sun. Spread a 2-inch layer of compost or well-rotted manure over the soil, followed by a 16-16-8 fertilizer at a rate of 2 pounds per 100 square feet. Dig these into to top six to eight inches of soil with a spade and pulverize any clumps. Rake the soil to level it.
- 5
  Remove some of the outer leaves of each celery seedling to promote recovery after transplanting.
- 6
  Transplant the young plants slightly deeper than they were growing in their previous container. Space them about 8 to 12 inches apart and maintain a 2-feet distance between the rows.
- 7
  Water the soil immediately after transplanting, and after this, provide the plants with one or two inches of water per week. Adjust the watering frequency after rainfall or during dry, hot spells because without consistent moisture, celery can get stringy and tough.
- 8
  Spread a 2-inch layer of organic mulch on the soil around the plants when they're 6 inches tall.This helps to combat weeds and promotes soil-moisture retention while also keeping the roots cool. If you don't mulch, cultivate the soil shallowly around the plants to eliminate emerging weeds.

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