How to Grow Celery

On this page
  1. Celery (Apium graveolens)
  2. At a Glance
  3. Quick Facts
  4. Soil & Growing Conditions
  5. Growth Stages
  6. Harvest & Storage
  7. Diseases
  8. Pests
  9. Nutrient Issues
  10. Plan your Celery planting
  11. Growing Celery in another region
  12. Sources
  13. Frequently Asked Questions

Celery is ready to harvest 70–84 days after planting.

The short answer

Ready in
70–84 days
Site
soil pH 5.8–6.8
Biggest risk
Cucumber mosaic virus

Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural sources — see References.

Celery (Apium graveolens)

Two lush, mature celery plants (Apium graveolens var. dulce) freshly harvested in a garden. Photo: Simon Mannweiler, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Also known as: Wild Celery, Smallage · 14 sources cited · Verified

At a Glance

A single freshly harvested celery head on a kitchen counter — “Harvested celery head, Trimingham, Norfolk” by Kolforn is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Harvested celery head, Trimingham, Norfolk” by Kolforn is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Apium graveolens Celery Cucumber mosaic virus Celery leaf spot Celery leaf miner (cele… Carrot fly DISEASES PESTS

Quick Facts

Long rows of celery growing in a UK field with a tractor in the background — “G's Celery” by Richard Humphrey is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“G's Celery” by Richard Humphrey is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Factor Value
Soil pH 5.8 - 6.8
Germination temp 15°C
Optimal growing temp 18-25°C
Minimum survivable temp -2°C
Time to harvest 70-84 days
Soil texture RHS: "Fertile, moisture-retentive soil. Avoid sites where the soil dries out rapidly".
Drainage RHS: moisture-retentive rather than free-draining, in a sunny spot. Utah State: "Full sun".
Lifecycle biennial
Edible parts stems (petioles)

Soil & Growing Conditions

Dense rows of celery growing under shading netting in a market garden — “Moshav Shova — celery greenhouse before harvest” by ליזי שאנן is licensed under CC BY 2.5. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Moshav Shova — celery greenhouse before harvest” by ליזי שאנן is licensed under CC BY 2.5. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Water: RHS: a "Steady supply of moisture throughout the growing season"; the "soil should never be allowed to dry out". Utah State: "at least 1 to 2 inches of water from rainfall or irrigation each week".

Humidity: No published ambient-humidity range; RHS and Utah State both specify constant soil moisture instead ("soil should never be allowed to dry out"; 1-2in/week) as the operative requirement for celery.

Soil pH range

5.8 6.8

Span reflects genuine variation between the cited authorities, not a single agreed figure.

Growth Stages

A young celery plant with ridged leaf stalks growing in a bed — “Apium graveolens (habit)” by Forest & Kim Starr is licensed under CC BY 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Apium graveolens (habit)” by Forest & Kim Starr is licensed under CC BY 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Stage BBCH Notes
Sowing & Establishment 0 Sow indoors mid-March to early April. PLANTING DEPTH & SPACING: surface-sow thinly on moist compost with only a very light dusting of sieved compost/vermiculite over the seed -- celery seed needs light to germinate and a minimum temperature of 15°C (RHS), taking up to three weeks. Prick out and pot on seedlings once large enough to handle; harden off before planting out in late May to early June, once frost risk has passed and roughly 10-12 weeks after sowing (Utah State: 10-12 weeks to transplant). Space self-blanching/block plantings 23cm (9in) apart each way (RHS); space trench celery 30-45cm (12-18in) apart in a single row, or use 18-24in (46-61cm) row spacing per Utah State guidance. Never let young plants sit below about 10°C (50°F) for more than a few days once growing -- prolonged chilling triggers bolting (RHS).
Vegetative (Leaf Stalk) Growth 3 Plants build a rosette of leaf stalks. Celery has a small, shallow root system and forages poorly for water and nutrients (Utah State), so keep the soil constantly moist -- RHS: the soil "should never be allowed to dry out"; Utah State recommends at least 1-2in (25-50mm) of water a week from rainfall or irrigation. Mulch with 5cm+ of organic matter after planting to conserve moisture (RHS). Feed with a nitrogen-rich fertiliser about a month after planting to sustain leaf growth (Utah State). Any water stress at this stage causes stringy, strongly flavoured stalks later (Utah State).
Stalk Thickening & Blanching 4.1 Once self-blanching plants' stems reach about 30cm (1ft), tie or wrap the outer stems with newspaper or cardboard in mid-to-late summer to exclude light and sweeten the inner stalks (RHS); trench celery is instead earthed up gradually -- soil mounded around the stems in stages from late summer -- to blanch it (RHS). Continue steady watering and feeding, but stop nitrogen feeding once stalks begin to swell, to reduce the risk of splitting (Utah State). Protect self-blanching celery with fleece or cloches ahead of the first autumn frosts, as it is not hardy (RHS); earthed-up trench celery tolerates more cold and can stand later into autumn.
Maturation & Harvest 8 Self-blanching/green celery is ready mid-summer to autumn; trench celery matures later, from late autumn into early winter (RHS). Harvest as soon as it reaches the desired size and before outer leaves start to yellow (RHS) -- typically 70-84 days from transplanting. Utah State: pick outer petioles once a foot (30cm) or more long, or lift whole plants once 3in (7.6cm) or more in diameter. Dig up whole self-blanching plants for use since they do not store well in the ground; lift trench celery as needed through autumn/winter. Refrigerate harvested stalks for up to about 2 weeks (Utah State); RHS gives no specific storage method, reflecting best-used-fresh practice.

Harvest & Storage

A freshly harvested whole head of celery with roots trimmed, on a kitchen counter — “Harvested celery head, Trimingham, Norfolk” by Kolforn is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Harvested celery head, Trimingham, Norfolk” by Kolforn is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

When to pick: RHS: harvest "Once it reaches the desired size"; self-blanching types should be cut "before the leaves start to turn yellow". Utah State: "Harvest celery stalks by removal of the outer petioles when they are a foot or more in length. Whole plants are ready to use when they are 3 inches or more in diameter."

Storage

Utah State: "Store harvested celery in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks". RHS states no storage method.

Diseases

Celery leaf with numerous small brown spots of celery leaf spot (Septoria apiicola) — “Sellerie Septoria-2-Josef Schlaghecken” by Schlaghecken Josef is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Sellerie Septoria-2-Josef Schlaghecken” by Schlaghecken Josef is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Cucumber mosaic virus
Moderate to severe when it occurs -- RHS: causes stunting (shortened internodes), yellow mottling/mosaic, leaf curling and reduced yields; aphid-borne and erratic/unpredictable in occurrence (UC IPM).

Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV)

RHS names celery explicitly: "CMV also attacks spinach, lettuce and celery".

Celery leaf spot
High -- UC IPM/RHS: the most destructive foliar disease of celery; untreated infections coalesce, causing leaves to die and drop, giving stands a scorched appearance and reducing marketable yield.

Septoria apiicola

Pests

Adult celery fly (Euleia heraclei), whose larvae mine celery leaves, photographed resting on a hogweed leaf — “Euleia heraclei 2” by Sandy from Scotland, UK is licensed under CC BY 2.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Euleia heraclei 2” by Sandy from Scotland, UK is licensed under CC BY 2.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Celery leaf miner (celery fly)
Mainly aesthetic on established plants -- RHS: leaf blotching from mining, worse in the second (later-summer) generation which can stunt growth; chemical control not recommended.

Euleia heraclei

Occasional/host-shared -- RHS lists celery among carrot fly hosts (carrot, parsnip, parsley, celeriac, celery) alongside carrot as the primary host; celery-specific severity is not separately rated by RHS.

Psila rosae

RHS: carrot fly affects "Carrot, parsnip, parsley, celeriac and celery".

Nutrient Issues

Two lush, mature celery plants freshly harvested in a garden — “Apium graveolens var. dulce (Staudensellerie)” by Simon Mannweiler is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Apium graveolens var. dulce (Staudensellerie)” by Simon Mannweiler is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Boron (B)

deficiency

Correction

RHS symptom in celery: "Brown cracks in celery stalks". Boron is "less available in alkaline soils (above pH 7)". Correction: test soil pH and avoid liming already-alkaline soil; short term, fritted trace elements containing boron before sowing or planting.

Plan your Celery planting

Timing for Celery follows soil temperature and frost, not the calendar date. The Global vegetable planting calendar explains the method. To work out where it fits in your beds, sketch your plot in the free Garden Layout Planner.

Growing Celery in another region

Sowing dates, frost timing and local advice differ by country. Use the guide for where you garden.

Sources

  1. EPPO code for the species Apium graveolens (distinct from var. dulce APUGD stalk-celery cultigen code and var. rapaceum APUGR celeriac).

  3. Kew POWO: native range Macaronesia to North Africa, Europe to West Himalaya; biennial habit, temperate biome.

These 3 sources are specific to this region. The full list of 14 sources behind this guide (AHDB, EPPO Global Database, FAO EcoCrop and others) is in the references of our UK guide to celery; they describe the plant itself, which is the same wherever it grows.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does celery take to grow?

Typically 70–84 days, depending on cultivar and growing conditions.

What soil pH does celery need?

A pH of about 5.8–6.8. That span reflects genuine variation between the authorities we cite rather than a single agreed figure — the References section lists each source's exact range.

What problems affect celery?

Our data links 2 diseases and 2 pests to this crop. See the sections above for each one and how to manage it.

Plan next season before the problems start

This page gives you the thresholds; the planner turns them into your own calendar. It works from what you can observe and measure in your garden rather than from dates written for somebody else’s latitude.

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SoilCommander Editorial Team — under the direction of Nitin Sharma, Co-Founder

Every growing guide is checked against RHS, USDA Cooperative Extension, and other named horticultural authorities before publishing.

How this guide is put together

The growing data on this page — sowing windows, pests, diseases, soil and site requirements — comes from named horticultural sources, listed in References below, checked against international horticultural research and extension sources. An automated pipeline assembles that verified data into the page you're reading: it selects which facts to lead with and builds the surrounding prose and layout. It does not invent a date, a source or a number — where a verified value for a field isn't available, the page leaves it out rather than guessing. A person reviews and publishes each page; nothing goes live unverified.

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Last verified 2026-08-06

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