Growing Celery

Apium sp. : Apiaceae / the umbelliferae family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
  S S         S S S S  
    T T         T T T T

(Best months for growing Celery in South Africa - Summer rainfall regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 12°C and 21°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 15 - 30 cm apart
  • Harvest in 17-18 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Not applicable as celery needs to be close together to encourage blanching.
  • Avoid growing close to: Sweetcorn
  • Celery seedlings

Most varieties improve with blanching but there are some self-blanching varieties available.

To Blanch: plant in trenches 15 - 20 cm (6 - 8 in) deep and 20 cm (8 in) apart. Leave about 40 cm (17 in) between rows. Fill the trenches gradually and keep well watered as the plants grow. The plants can be lifted to use, as needed after about 11 weeks.

Alternatively wrap the plants in sleeves of paper or black plastic.

Celery needs moist fertile soil.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Celery

Chop and use raw in salad or braised in hot dishes.

Your comments and tips

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for South Africa | for all countries
20 Apr 21, Nicolene (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
Can I sow Celery now, mid Autumn in cool Highveld of South Africa?
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29 Apr 21, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Go to celery, click on your climate zone and check calendar planting times.
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01 Aug 20, MARIO (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
Hi, We’re growing celery from the base of the stalks, about 1/2 cm thick, Place them in a tray with a small film of water. Leave near a sunny window for around 10 days adding a little water each day. When the stalks are about 5c. high and the roots have grown we plant as you normally would. Didn’t believe it but the stalks a re growing well. Anyone else doing this? .
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16 Aug 20, Regina (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Yes, you can tell how fresh your produce you buy from supermarket is. We also regrow onion, lettuce, broccoli and cauliflower. We put onion in water until roots regrow then into ground, same with lettuce, we put broccoli and cauliflower in ground and started growing before winter and then the rats decided they were hungry so didn't get to grow a head of replanted stem.
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03 Aug 20, Anonymous (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
You can do this with a few vegetables, carrots, onions, shallots, celery etc. Look up a website PINTEREST it has lots of this stuff or google it.
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19 Oct 16, Pana (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
For the past few months, I have been buying celery from our local supermarket. Every celery that I have bought has had its sweet center sticks cut off... not the center core stems and leaves though. I complained to the manager and he called the farmer. The farmer said that they have been cutting the sticks off because they were flowering... That makes no sense to me. Surely the flowers come from the center of the core or on different looking stems... not on the sweet inner leaf stems that we usually eat... please confirm.
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23 Mar 15, (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
Hi when is the corect tome to plant celery from. Seedim very sucsessful in growing alomat everything fron basil to garlic I'm not sure about celery I want those big long stems aswell regards sharon
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27 Aug 14, Emmanuel (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Can I grow celery in the same bed with green beans?
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17 Mar 16, Bee-Pie (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Yes. Celery requires high amounts of nitrogen & beans fix nitrogen in the soil pulling it from the air.
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14 May 14, diane (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
My celery has white colour on the leaves almost like white spots. Do you perhaps know whats causing this or what I can do to remedy.
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Supermarkets buy from different climates etc.

- Mike

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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