Celery is a long-season crop needing an early indoor start and consistent moisture. Here's the UK timing, planting guide, and the one mistake that ruins the crop.
Ready to start growing? Read our full How to Grow Celery UK →
Sowing dates and growing advice verified against RHS guidance by the SoilCommander Growing Team.
Celery Planting Calendar
| Task | Timing | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sow indoors | February – April | Surface sow — needs light to germinate; 15–18°C |
| Prick out / pot on | April – May | Handle carefully; roots are fragile |
| Transplant outdoors | Late May – June | After all frost risk; 30–45cm apart; water in well |
| Harvest | August – November | Self-blanching: August–October; trench celery: October–November |
Key Growing Tips
- Do not cover seeds when sowing — celery seed needs light to germinate
- Consistent moisture is essential throughout — any check in watering causes stringy stalks
- Self-blanching varieties (Lathom Self-Blanching) are far easier than trench celery for most gardeners
- Plant self-blanching types in a block rather than rows to help shade stalks and improve blanching
Browse all sowing dates in the UK vegetable planting calendar · Explore all UK vegetable growing guides
Relevant next steps
Plan The Timing Before You Sow
Use the planting window with a planner, seed-starting setup, and the full calendar so dates stay practical for your garden.
Plan the next step
Use the printable UK Vegetable Garden Planner to turn this guide into sowing dates, bed layouts, and weekly garden tasks.