Celery germinates in about a week and takes about 140 days to harvest.

  • Use at least a 4 gallon grow bag.

  • Make sure the soil has plenty of organic compost to help in retaining moisture.

  • When the seeds have sprouted, thin out the smallest by half. When they are 3 inches tall, thin out to 3 plants in a 4 gallon bag.

  • Celery is a water hog so be sure to keep the soil moist at all times.

  • You don’t have to do anything but keep the soil wet until your plant matures.

  • Cut the stalk at the base and leave the root in the soil and the celery stalk will regrow.

Companion Plants:

  • Beans

  • Leeks

  • Onions

  • Spinach

  • Tomatoes

Celery does not grow well with carrots, parsnips and turnips.

How should I fertilize my Celery?

You'll most likely need to fertilize before planting celery and then twice during the growing season to maximize your yields. For general purposes, soil where celery will be grown should be treated with a complete fertilizer that is high in potassium, such as a 4-4-8 blend, before the celery is ever planted. It likes high-nitrogen soil, so a chicken manure fertilizer would work well.

What bugs attack Celery and what gets rid of them?

  • While this tiny fly is less than 0.1 inches long, it is one of the most serious celery pests in Florida. The red-eyed adults feed at the flowers, and females puncture leaves and eat plant juices. Larvae, which were laid inside the leaf surface, feed and move throughout the leaf. Because of these pests, celery takes longer to mature and have a reduced yield.

    Because leafminers can resist common insecticides, consider having tiny wasp parasitoids, a natural enemy, attack the larvae.

  • Even though aphids are considered minor pests of celery, they can be virus vectors. The soft-bodied adults put their needle-like mouths into plant tissue and suck the plant’s juices. While they are taking nutrients from the plant, these pests also insert toxins that affect the plant’s growth.

    Unlike other pests, no thresholds have been determined to control aphids. Though applying chemicals with systemic activity can be effective, avoid using broad-spectrum pesticides because they can kill natural enemies.

  • These traveling moths contribute greatly to the worm complex, which is one of the greatest insect problems for celery in Florida. The beet armyworm feeds on the plant and deposits fecal matter throughout it, making the celery unmarketable.

    Drop the caterpillars into a container of soapy water to kill them and then bag and discard the carcasses.

  • Cabbage loopers, which feed on a variety of plants, thrive in warm temperatures. The adult female moths can produce 300–600 eggs during its 10- to 12-day lifespan.

    Natural enemies, such as parasitoid wasps and flies, can aid in control. Destroying crop residues, controlling weeds, and waiting to plant during cooler months (when pests are less present) can help manage pests.

What soil pH is best for Celery?

Ideal pH: 6.0-6.5. Celery is a heavy feeder and needs rich, moist soil.

How do you store Celery?

For the best results, keep celery heads whole, wrap them up tightly in aluminum foil, and then keep them in the refrigerator drawer as usual. When stored this way, celery stalks can maintain their freshness anywhere from two to four weeks.

Interesting facts:

  • The ancient Greeks used the veggies as flowers to reward winners of athletic games.

  • Celery is mentioned in Homer’s The Iliad.

  • A Scotsman named George Taylor first introduced celery to the United States in 1856.

  • In the 1800s, celery farmers founded Celeryville, Ohio.

  • Jell-O created a celery flavor in the 1960s.

  • A stalk can reach just over 3 feet.

  • One ounce of seeds can produce an acre of the plant.