Vegetable · Stem vegetable
Celery
Apium graveolensA slow, thirsty crop that rewards a long head start indoors and a steady, generous water supply all season. Stalks turn stringy and bitter the moment the soil dries out even briefly. The one rule: never let it dry out — celery has almost no drought tolerance.
Sow depth
⅛ in (surface sown)
Spacing
10 in apart · rows 16 in
Sun
Full sun
Germination
14–21 days
Time to harvest
120–130 days
Difficulty
Challenging
When to sow celery
- Sow from about 12 weeks before your last expected frost until about 10 weeks before your last expected frost.
Start indoors early — celery needs 10–12 weeks of growth before transplanting.Surface-sow onto moist compost; seed needs light to germinate.Transplant out only once seedlings are sturdy and nights have warmed.
Keep soil consistently moist — celery has almost no drought tolerance.Feed regularly with a balanced liquid feed to keep stalks tender.Mound soil or wrap collars around stems to blanch and sweeten them.
Cut outer stalks as needed, letting the center keep growing.Or lift the whole plant once the base is thick and full.Harvest before hard frost; stalks turn stringy in prolonged cold.
Companion plants
Leeks and celery share similar watering needs and rarely compete for the same root depth.
Watch out for
Celery leaf miner — Tunnels blister-like trails in leaves through the season. Remove affected leaves promptly and cover with mesh.Bolting — Triggered by a cold snap in young plants or by drought stress later. Harden off gently and keep watering steady.