Celery may be a cool-weather crop. It requires 16 weeks of cool weather to return to reap .

Start flavorer indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last frost in spring. Set transplants within the garden 2 to three weeks before the typical last frost date when seedlings have 5 to six leaves.

In cool spring and summer regions, plant celery in early spring. In warm spring and summer regions, plant celery in late summer for harvest in late autumn or early winter.

Description. Celery may be a hardy biennial grown as an annual. it’s a rosette of 12- to 18-inch (30-45cm) stalks, topped with divided leaves. Celery is grown for its stalks, leaves, and seeds.

Celery Yield. Plant 5 plants per household member.

HOW TO GROW CELERY

Site. Grow celery in compost-rich, moisture-retentive soil that borders on wet but still drains. Celery prefers soil with a pH between 5.8 and 6.8. Celery features a low tolerance for warmth and prefers a cool, cloudy location where growing temperatures range between 60°F and 70°F (15-21°C). Plant celery where the season offers 4 months of cool weather.Celery seedling

In cool spring and summer regions, plant celery in early spring. In warm spring and summer regions, plant celery in late summer for harvest in late autumn or early winter.

Celery Planting Time. Celery may be a cool-weather crop. It requires 16 weeks of cool weather to return to reap . Start flavorer indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last frost in spring. Set transplants within the garden 2 to three weeks before the typical last frost date when seedlings have 5 to six leaves. (To delay transplanting time and slow growth, cut seedlings right down to 3 inches (7.6cm) tall then allow them to grow on.) weather will inhibit growth as will warm weather. Temperatures below 50°F (10°C) for quite 12 hours may cause celery to bolt. In cool spring and summer regions, plant celery in early spring. In warm spring and summer regions, plant celery in late summer for harvest in late autumn or early winter.

Planting and Spacing Celery. Sow flavorer ¼ to ½ inch deep, 6 to 10 inches (15-25cm) apart; space rows 24 inches (61cm) apart. Transplant seedlings started indoors into trenches 3 to 4 inches (7.6-10cm) deep set 6 to 10 inches (15-25cm) apart. As plants grow mound up soil round the stems to blanch them. Plant self-blanching celery in blocks 6 to 12 inches (15-30cm) apart; planting closer will provides a higher yield but more slender stalks.

Companion plants. Lettuce, spinach, English peas. Avoid pumpkins, cucumbers, and squash.

Container Growing Celery. Celery are often grown in an 8-inch (20cm)container. Set celery on 10-inch centers in large containers. To blanch celery growing during a container, tie paper, or cardboard cylinders round the stalks.

CARING FOR CELERY

Water and Feeding Celery. Keep celery well-watered during all phases of growth. Lack of water will slow growth, cause stalks to become stringy, and encourage plants to send up flower stalks. Celery may be a heavy feeder. Add aged compost to planting beds before planting and side-dress plants with compost at midseason. Celery during a row

Thin plants in order that there’s room for sunlight and air circulation.

Celery Care. Keep celery planting beds weed-free to avoid competition for moisture and nutrients. Keep cultivation shallow so as to not damage roots. Blanch celery to reinforce its sweet flavor and whiten stalks. Celery that’s not blanched are often bitter tasting. Blanching is achieved by covering the stalks with soil, straw, or paper cylinders rolled up to the highest of the stalks to guard them from the sun, which inspires them to supply chlorophyll and switch green. Blanch celery up to 10 to 14 days before harvesting. Celery that sits too long after blanching will become pithy and should rot.

Celery Pests. Celery usually encounters no serious pest problems but are often attacked by celery leaf miner and slugs (during blanching).

Celery Diseases. Pink rot, black heart, and blight can attack celery. confirm there are adequate magnesium and calcium within the soil to discourage these diseases.

HARVESTING AND STORING CELERY

Celery Harvest. Time from planting to reap is 100 to 130 days from transplants about 20 days longer from seed. A 10-foot (3m) row should yield about 20 heads of celery. Start harvesting before the primary hard frost when the top is about 2 to three inches (5-7.6cm)in diameter at the bottom. stop the top at or slightly below the soil level.

Storing and Preserving Celery. Celery will confine the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Leaves cut to be used as an herb will confine the refrigerator for up to at least one week. Celery are often dried, canned, and frozen. Seeds are often used as an herb.

CELERY VARIETIES TO GROW

‘Golden Plume’ (85-116 days); ‘Golden Self-Blanching’ (80-118 days); ‘Green Giant’ (95-115 days); ‘Summer Pascal’ (‘Tall Fordhook’) (115 days); ‘Red Celery’ (120 days); ‘Starlet’ (120 days); ‘Utah 52-70’ (125 days); ‘Ventura’ (80-100 days); ‘French Celery Dinant’ (Chinese celery) (55 days).Celeriac growing within the garden

Celeriac also called celery root may be a celery relative.

Celeriac (Apium graveolens var. rapacious) also called celery root and celeriac may be a relative of celery. The edible part of the celeriac is its enlarged, knobby base which is a component stem and part crown. Grow celeriac as you’d celery; it’s easier to grow than celery. Celeriac is prepared for harvest when the bottom is 2 to 4 inches thick.