Celery (Apium graveolens)
9 sources cited · Verified
The short answer
- Sow
- Early March to mid April
- Plant out
- Mid May to mid June
- Ready in
- 70–84 days
- Site
- soil pH 5.8–6.8
- Biggest risk
- Cucumber mosaic virus
In the UK, celeries are sown early March to mid April, planted out mid May to mid June, and are ready to harvest 70–84 days after sowing.
Celeries (Apium graveolens) — biennial.
Timing is the decision that matters most in the UK: there are 4 separate regional planting out windows, ranging from mid May in southern England to early June further north.
Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural and university-extension sources — see References.
Watch: Growing Celery at Home
A SoilCommander video on growing celery at home in the UK — sowing, spacing, keeping the soil constantly moist, and harvesting crisp stalks.
Regional Planting Calendar
| Region | Sow | Plant out |
|---|---|---|
| Southern England derived | early March to mid April | mid May to mid June |
| Midlands derived | early March to mid April | early June to late June |
| Northern England derived | mid March to late April | early June to early July |
| Scotland derived | early April to early May | late June to mid July |
Rows marked derived are interpolated between regions our sources do state, because no source we consulted gives a figure for that region specifically. They are deliberately wider to reflect that uncertainty.
Southern England - detail & sources
Southern England: sow indoors mid-Mar to mid-Apr (min 15C germination, RHS); plant out late May to mid-June once frost risk has passed. Longest, warmest season in the UK supports both self-blanching and trench celery.
Midlands - detail & sources
Midlands: sow indoors late-Mar to late-Apr; plant out early to late June, slightly later than southern England to avoid a late cold check that can trigger bolting (RHS).
Northern England - detail & sources
Northern England: sow indoors late-Mar to late-Apr; delay planting out to mid-June to early-July until night temperatures reliably stay above about 10C (RHS bolting-risk threshold) and frost risk has passed.
Scotland - detail & sources
Scotland: sow indoors April; plant out late June to mid-July, the shortest safe window in the UK -- later, cooler springs raise bolting risk, and self-blanching types need to bulk up before the earlier autumn frosts arrive.
Quick Facts
| Factor | Value |
|---|---|
| Soil pH | 5.8 - 6.8 |
| Germination temp | 15C |
| Optimal growing temp | 18-25C |
| Minimum survivable temp | -2C |
| 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) |
At a Glance
Soil & Growing Conditions
Growth Stages
| 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 15C (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 10C (50F) 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
Diseases
Pests
Nutrient Issues
Celery, Sown to Stalk
References
-
Tier 1. Primary UK source: sowing (surface-sow, min 15C, up to 3wk germination), self-blanching (23cm block spacing) vs trench (30-45cm rows) types, blanching methods, watering, mulching, feeding, frost tenderness, harvest timing/indicators, common problems.
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Tier 1. US extension source: planting window, 10-12wk to transplant, 18-24in spacing, small/shallow root system needing consistent nutrients, 1-2in/week water, N feed timing, stop feed once stalks form, refrigerate up to 2 weeks.
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Tier 1. US extension source for Septoria apiicola (celery leaf spot/late blight): symptoms, seed-borne + residue-borne disease cycle, temperature thresholds, cultural and chemical management.
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Tier 1. Host-specific: celery, parsnips, celeriac, parsley, lovage; symptoms, two generations/year lifecycle, mesh/rotation/manual-removal/burial controls, no chemical control recommended.
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Tier 1. Host-specific: "Plants affected - Carrot, parsnip, parsley, celeriac and celery".
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Tier 1. Host-specific: "CMV also attacks spinach, lettuce and celery"; aphid-vectored, no chemical control, resistant cultivars/sanitation/reflective mulch guidance.
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Tier 1. US extension corroboration on frost/cold tolerance: young plants damaged near freezing; mature plants withstand light frost but temperatures much below 30F (-1C) can kill/damage them.
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Tier 1. EPPO code for the species Apium graveolens (distinct from var. dulce APUGD stalk-celery cultigen and var. rapaceum APUGR celeriac).
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Tier 1. Native range: Macaronesia to North Africa, Europe to West Himalaya; biennial habit.
9 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I plant celeries out in the UK?
In southern England, from mid May. In northern England and Scotland, wait until early June. Treat these as a guide rather than a fixed date — the governing rule is to plant out only once frost risk has passed and temperatures are reliably warm enough.
When do I sow celeries?
Sow early March to mid April, at around 15°C for germination.
How long do celeries take to grow?
Typically 70–84 days, depending on cultivar and growing conditions.
What soil pH do celeries 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 celeries?
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
Most of the advice on this page comes down to timing and spacing — sowing at the right moment, rotating beds, and giving plants enough airflow. The UK Garden Planner lays your plot out month by month so those decisions are already made before the season starts.
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Last verified 2026-08-06
Tools That Help With This Crop
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