They say good things are worth the wait. And when it comes to celery, I completely agree.
If you’ve only ever had the bland, watery stalks from the grocery store, you might be wondering: Celery? Worth growing? Really?
Yes. Really.
Homegrown celery is crisp, aromatic, and packed with flavor. It’s one of those crops that might take a little more time and care than others, but the payoff is so worth it. Once you try celery from your own garden, I promise you’ll never look at the store-bought stuff the same way again.
The catch? Celery is a slow grower. Some varieties take up to 180 days to reach full maturity. But don’t let that scare you off! With my tips below, you can grow celery successfully in most climates, even if your growing season isn’t naturally that long.
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1. CHOOSE THE RIGHT VARIETY
There are several types of celery to choose from, depending on how you want to use it and how long your season is:
- Merengo Celery: A faster-growing, cold-tolerant variety that matures in about 85 days.
- Utah Celery: Closest to the thick grocery-store type, but with way better flavor.
- Seasoning Celery (like Amsterdam): Grown for its fragrant leaves instead of stalks—perfect for soups and stews.
If your growing season is short, choose a variety that matures quickly.
2. CHOOSE HOW YOU WANT TO GROW CELERY
There are three ways to grow celery in your garden: start it from seed, transplant young seedlings from your local nursery, or regrow it from the base of a bunch you bought at the grocery store.
1. START FROM SEED (AND START EARLY)
Celery seeds are tiny and slow to germinate. Plan to start seeds indoors about 10–12 weeks before your last expected frost.
- Soak seeds overnight to help with germination.
- Plant just 1/4″ deep (they like a bit of light to sprout).
- Use a humidity dome or cover with a towel to hold in moisture.
- Be patient! Germination can take 15 to 30 days.
Keep seedlings under a grow lights until they’re 2″ to 4″ tall and ready to move outside. Once your ready to move them outside be sure to follow steps to harden them off before they find their permanent home outside.
2. TRANSPLANT CELERY FROM THE NURSERY
Before planting, spread a 2- to 3-inch thick layer of fresh compost over the planting area.
- Space celery transplants about 9″ apart. You can fit 2 to 4 plants per square foot of garden space.
- Dig a hole as deep and twice as wide as the rootball of the celery so that the roots have some loose soil around them.
- Try to minimize root disturbance when you’re pulling each little seedling from the tray and transferring them to the garden.
3. REGROW FROM STORE BOUGHT CELERY
Don’t toss that celery base! You can regrow celery right from store-bought stalks:
- Chop off the stalks and keep the base.
- Bury the base about 2 to 3 inches deep in compost-rich soil.
- Water regularly and keep the soil moist.
- New sprouts will begin to emerge from the center in just a few days.
- Feed with compost or a gentle fertilizer to encourage growth.
- Harvest outer stalks as needed once the plant fills in.
3. WHEN AND WHERE TO PLANT CELERY
Celery is a cool-season crop that does best when daytime temps stay between 60–70°F.
- Choose a spot that gets at least 6 hours of sun per day.
- Plant in the ground, raised beds, or containers filled with loose, well-draining, compost-rich soil.
- Avoid compacted clay or shallow soil. Celery roots like to go deep and need room to grow.
If you’re using containers, aim for one that’s at least 10″ deep and 12″ wide, with drainage holes. Learn more about container gardening here.
4. WATER AND FEED REGULARLY
Celery loves water. Dry spells can make stalks tough and bitter.
- Water deeply 2–3 times per week or more during dry spells.
- Use a drip system or a watering wand to water at soil level and avoid wetting the leaves.
- Add compost around the base of plants to hold moisture and add nutrients for your growing plants.
Feed with compost or a balanced organic fertilizer every few weeks to keep growth steady.
5. WATCH THE WEATHER
Celery is sensitive to temperature extremes.
- Too cold (below 40°F) and it may bolt (send up a flower stalk).
- Too hot (above 80°F) and it may turn bitter or stop growing.
Use frost cloths during cold snaps and shade cloth during hot spells to protect your plants and extend your season.
6. BLANCH FOR TENDER, SWEET STALKS (OPTIONAL BUT WORTH IT)
If you’ve ever found your celery a little too tough or bitter, blanching might be the answer.
Blanching means covering the stalks to block out sunlight a couple of weeks before harvest. This helps reduce bitterness and gives the stalks that pale, tender texture you see in store-bought celery. The tradeoff? Unblanched celery is darker, stronger in flavor, and contains more nutrients—so it’s totally up to you!
Here’s how to blanch:
- About 2 weeks before harvest, wrap or cover the stalks (not the leaves) with something that blocks light. I like to use heavy paper, mulch, soil, cardboard, or cans.
- Leave the leafy tops exposed so the plant can still photosynthesize.
- Be gentle so you don’t damage the stalks underneath.
7. BEST TIME TO HARVEST CELERY
Celery can be harvested stalk by stalk:
- Once outer stalks reach about 6″ tall, start cutting them from the outside.
- Leave the center intact to keep the plant growing.
- For full heads, wait until plants mature (usually 85–120 days) and cut at the base.
Morning is the best time to harvest celery. If a flower stalk starts forming in the middle of the plant, cut it off to delay bolting, or let the plant go to seed and collect seed for next year.
Bring your stalks indoors, rinse off, and store wrapped in a sealed container, damp paper towel, or aluminum foil in the refrigerator.
Celery might not be the fastest veggie in my garden, but it’s become one of my favorites. Once I tasted how fresh and flavorful homegrown celery can be, I was hooked—and I think you will be too.
Yes, it takes a bit more patience and planning, but the results are 100% worth it. Whether you’re growing it from seed, regrowing from a store-bought stalk, or starting with a nursery plant, you’ll love having a steady supply of crisp, tasty celery just steps from your kitchen.
If you have questions about growing celery where you live, feel free to reach out—I’m always happy to help you get growing.
Happy gardening!
