How to Grow Celery in Your Garden (2024)

FAQs

How to Grow Celery in Your Garden? ›

When growing celery, the soil must be consistently moist, not soggy. If celery dries out, it can be stringy, bitter, and bolt. Mulching the soil after planting helps keep celery from drying out. I use garden grids to water my garden with excellent results.

Celery needs at least 1 to 2 inches of water from rainfall or irrigation each week during the growing season. Always soak the soil thoroughly when watering because celery has a small, shallow root system. Any water stress during the year causes the stalks to become stringy and gives them a strong flavor.

Use a complete fertilizer with a high ratio of potassium (4-4-8). Plants: Celery is generally transplanted. Transplants should have 3-4 mature leaves and a well-established root system, before they are planted in the garden.

Don't plant root crops, such as carrots, parsnips, and potatoes nearby. Celery has a shallow root system that can be damaged when a root crop is harvested. Corn is also not a good choice. It is a heavy feeder and can deplete the soil of the nutrients that celery needs, and the tall plants block too much sunlight.

Celery likes six hours of sun a day, but plant it in a place where it will be shaded during the hottest part of the day. Celery requires regular fertilization and plenty of water. Keep the soil evenly moist. Celery does best in soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.

Celery is 95% water by weight, and needs more water than most vegetables. It's a marshland plant, so it prefers consistent moisture. That means you'll need to water it each day (for temperatures reaching above 70° F) or every other day (for temperatures averaging below 70° F).

Like most vegetables, celery needs fertile, well-amended soil to thrive. Savio recommends spreading 1 to 2 inches each of compost and cow or steer manure, topped with an inch or so coffee grounds — her personal secret sauce for mulching and enriching her garden soil.

Otherwise, mix a combination of epsom salt, bone meal, and blood meal into your soil to make sure celery has the nutrients it needs to grow strong. Ensure adequate calcium to avoid the disease black heart.

Celery plants like full sun and rich garden soil. Celery takes more nutrients than most garden plants as well as more water. Add plenty of compost and mulch around the plants to help retain moisture. You can add a general purpose fertilizer as you work the soil before planting, and fertilize regularly.

Keep plants well watered and fed to avoid stress, otherwise you will end up with dry, fibrous stalks. To maximise growing space in a pot, try sowing baby lettuce or microgreens around the celery. Take care not to overcrowd as the plants will compete for nutrients.

Can I plant celery next to tomatoes? ›

You can grow tomatoes and celery together, they have similar soil and nutrient requirements and are not affected by the same diseases. However, you should make sure that the soil is well supplied with nutrients, as both plants are heavy feeders.

You can grow celery in full or part sun, but getting the balance right between adequate sunlight for healthy growth and too much of a good thing can be tricky. For the best flavor and texture, grow plants in full sun in winter and protect them from the strong afternoon sun in the height of summer.

The key to success with celery is plenty of water throughout the growing season. If the soil dries out, the stems won't swell and will be very stringy. Take care when tending celery, as it can cause a skin rash – it may be best to wear gloves and long sleeves.

As per research, celery contains a unique compound called 3-n-butylphthalide (BuPh) that reportedly has lipid-lowering powers (cholesterol is a lipid). BuPh also has a calming effect on our central nervous system that may help promote better sleep.

Celery loves a nutritious soil that has been enriched with plenty of compost or well-rotted manure. Wild celery grows in boggy ground, so you'll need to ensure consistent moisture for this thirsty vegetable, while a sunny spot should ensure good, even growth.

Thin Celery Growing Problems

Harvesting too early- First and foremost, celery requires a lengthy maturation period of 130-140 days. Obviously, if you're harvesting celery earlier than that, the celery plants are not yet thick enough, as they are still immature. Also, celery is susceptible to frost, even a light one.

Celery, a biennial often grown as an annual, thrives in USDA zones 6-10. Its growth cycle dictates when to wield the shears. Prune during spring or fall, aligning with the plant's natural growth spurts.