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 12°C and 21°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 15 - 30 cm 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
  • Celery seedlings

Most varieties improve with blanching but there are some self-blanching varieties available.

To Blanch: plant in trenches 15 - 20 cm (6 - 8 in) deep and 20 cm (8 in) apart. Leave about 40 cm (17 in) between rows. Fill the trenches gradually and keep well watered as the plants grow. The plants can be lifted to use, as needed after about 11 weeks.

Alternatively wrap the plants in sleeves of paper or black plastic.

Celery needs moist fertile soil.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Celery

Chop and use raw in salad or braised in hot dishes.

Your comments and tips

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14 Aug 19, craig (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
what is meant by lifting celery after 11 weeks (Gardenate ed.- i have revised that and added 'to use' after lifting )
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27 Jun 19, Ghulam (New Zealand - temperate climate)
hi l am living in canterbury now can i plant celery?
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28 Jun 19, (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Look up what climate zone you are and check when to plant.
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16 Jan 19, Tonimarie Heron (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi. I would be really grateful if yo had any advice on to grow celery all year round. It sells all year in the super market, so I'm assuming it is possible? Many thanks, Toni.
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18 Mar 19, perry (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
I have had success growing celery in the shade this summer north of Auckland. I think I planted in November where the plants needed to grow tall to reach the light.
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22 Jan 19, Mike (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Supermarkets buy from different climates etc.
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21 Jan 19, Mike (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
No you can't.
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22 Aug 17, Eileen Stowers (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Just a query. How is celery grown in NZ. ? When we lived in UK (many years ago) we used to dig a trench and when the celery was showing above the ground it was wrapped in news paper up to the leaves and then increased as the plant grew. This meant that most of the stalks were white and crisp but we find that the NZ celery is stringy and dark green on the outside . Is this to do with the climate or method of cultivating ? Also my father used to empty the soot from the chimney round the plants at a short distance away from the roots. (I know this would not be an option here ) !!!! but maybe there is an alternative.
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17 Jan 19, Mike Logan (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Celery is grown close together to stop the sunlight from reaching the stalks and lower leaves. If it receive lots of sunlight the stalks go green. You can use different ways to stop it as you said happens in UK. If you grow good big celery you pull the outside 10 or so stalks off to expose the lighter coloured stalks.
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19 May 17, David (New Zealand - temperate climate)
My celery is growing quite well in Auckland but is getting this brown fungal problem (I think) - the leaves wither and the stems go brown . Is there any safe spray,etc to use? Thanks David
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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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