How Do You Plant Celery?

Growing Celery: How to Plant This Tricky-yet-Rewarding Vegetable

At first glance, celery seems downright fussy. It’s one of those crops that demands your attention, like a bad but lovable dog that barks at 2 a.m. But stick with it—growing celery is worth it when you bite into a stalk that’s infinitely crisper and more flavorful than anything shrink-wrapped at the grocery store.

Start With the Right Variety

If you’re planting celery, you’ve got two main types to choose from: self-blanching celery and Pascal celery. Self-blanching varieties require less upkeep, perfect if you’re more laid back (or just distracted by other plants). Pascal celery, on the other hand, is the classic, crunchy type we all recognize, but it benefits from a little extra attention to achieve the tender stalks we love.

I’ve grown both, and let me tell you—self-blanching is forgiving, but there's a deep satisfaction in nurturing Pascal into full-bodied perfection.

Planting Celery Indoors: A Necessary Start

Celery is not a crop you can just slap into the ground and hope for the best. Its seeds are tiny, like specks of dust, and they’re painfully slow to germinate. Do yourself a favor: start indoors about 10 to 12 weeks before your last frost date.

Sprinkle the seeds on the surface of a seed tray filled with light, well-draining potting soil. Don’t bury them. Celery seeds need light to germinate, and if you smother them, you’ll be left wondering why nothing sprouted.

Germination takes patience—sometimes up to three weeks. Keep them warm (65–75°F) and consistently moist, but not soggy. I keep my seed trays on top of my fridge, where it’s warm, but out of direct sunlight. Trust me, this one hack changed my germination rates overnight.

Transplanting Celery Seedlings Outside

Once your celery seedlings have a few real leaves and nighttime temps are consistently above 50°F, it’s time to harden them off. Gradually introduce them to the great outdoors over a ten-day period. Skipping this step is like tossing your kids into a pool without swimming lessons—they’ll suffer.

Celery thrives in rich, moisture-retentive soil with full sun to partial shade. Amend your planting bed with compost or well-rotted manure before transplanting. Space plants about 8–10 inches apart in rows, leaving 12 inches between rows.

Pro Tip for Transplanting: Don’t Rush

When you’re planting, tuck the seedlings in just a bit deeper than they were in the tray. This helps stabilize their delicate stems. Gently press soil around them, water well, and mulch to lock in moisture.

Watering Is Non-Negotiable

“Consistent moisture is to celery what gasoline is to a car: without it, nothing moves.”

If celery dries out, the stalks will be tough, bitter, and useless for Sunday morning Bloody Marys. Water deeply twice a week, and more often during hot spells. I lay down soaker hoses to keep the soil evenly moist without resorting to daily watering marathons.

Fertilizing: Feed Like You Mean It

Celery is a heavy feeder, no two ways about it. Feeding every three weeks with a balanced liquid fertilizer keeps those picky plants happy. Early on, focus on nitrogen for leafy growth. Later in the season, switch to potassium to thicken those stalks.

I once skipped a feeding, and my celery got downright sulky—thin, pale stalks that looked like they’d given up on life. Lesson learned: don’t skimp.

Optional: Blanching for Tender Stalks

Blanching isn’t about turning celery white; it’s about blocking sunlight to encourage tender, milder-tasting stalks. To blanch, simply mound soil or wrap cardboard or newspaper around the stalks 2–3 weeks before harvest. This reduces bitterness significantly.

Not everyone’s up for the extra work, and I respect that. But if you want that ridiculously smooth, creamy flavor, it’s worth it.

Harvesting and Storage

Celery is ready to harvest when the stalks are about 8 inches tall, and they feel firm when squeezed. You can harvest the whole plant or cut individual stalks as needed. Use a sharp knife—it’s cleaner and less stressful for the plant.

Fresh celery stores like a dream in a plastic bag in the fridge, but why stop there? Dice and freeze extras for soups and stews. It’s a little step that’ll make your winter cooking feel like a gift from summer.

The Reward

Growing celery may stretch your patience and test your gardening habits, but biting into a homegrown stalk will make you feel like a magician. It’s crispy, vibrant, and somehow more alive than anything shrink-wrapped in plastic. And isn’t that the point?

Now you have the knowledge and tools you'll need to successfully grow celery in your garden! with the right soil, plentiful water, and adequate sunlight, you can enjoy a fresh crop of celery in no time. so don't delay; dig in and get to planting your celery!