Growing Celery

Apium sp. : Apiaceae / the umbelliferae family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
                  S S  
T                     T

(Best months for growing Celery in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 54°F and 70°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 6 - 12 inches apart
  • Harvest in 17-18 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Not applicable as celery needs to be close together to encourage blanching.
  • Avoid growing close to: Sweetcorn

Your comments and tips

17 Mar 13, Emily (Australia - temperate climate)
I need help on how to grow corn, everytime i plant seeds they always seem to shoot up then die a few days later. What am i doing wrong ?
17 Nov 13, Richard (Australia - temperate climate)
I have more luck starting them off in seed trays then transplant when 10cms high.
30 Jan 13, (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
Hi I stay in the Free State and have a tunnel with twenty per cent shade net, any suggestions or comments on planting in February Frances
23 Aug 12, Wilma Brown (USA - Zone 5b climate)
T.his years celery was too large, and not as tender.I looked but could not find the light color I like.
10 Mar 12, Ken (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Any tips on growing Chinese Celery from seed?
30 Jan 12, PK (Australia - temperate climate)
Gidday, I just moved 2 S'th Adelaide & have a V-small B-yd. I,ve had 2 raise my 5 x 10 plot by a foot or 2. But the 40+ day's r hell, so i,ve covered the area with white mesh & it has improved the celery that was not looking healthy at all. Most thing i have noticed is the water factor, twice a day is ex 4 them, a good watering is OK i have found. so i hope 2 eat them real soon in my slow cooking stew's lol.
18 Dec 11, (Australia - temperate climate)
my celery have been in the ground for 6 weeks and are really slow.is this normal
17 Mar 13, Emily (Australia - temperate climate)
Yes, it is normal for celery to grow slow especially if you have had alot of rain ? :)
14 Nov 12, (Australia - temperate climate)
same! mine's been in the ground about 2 months and it doesn't seem to have grown much more than it did in the first week
20 Mar 14, Jessica (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Adding fertiliser did the trick for me. The instructions said liquid but my father in law gave me some chicken manure pellets. I never followed up so they didn't grow big fat stalks but the flavour sure is concentrated.
Showing 91 - 100 of 117 comments

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. GardenGrow is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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