Celery Seeds

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Useful gardening information

Grow celery for its fresh, flavorful stalks and leaves, which are excellent for adding a crisp texture and flavor to salads, soups, and stews. Homegrown celery is a rewarding way to access a staple kitchen vegetable that provides a long harvest period, can be frozen for later use, and offers superior taste compared to store-bought options. Although it requires consistent moisture and a cool-weather environment, celery is a space-efficient crop that yields a reliable harvest for months.
Celery is a cool-weather crop, preferring temperatures between 58° F and 80° F to do best. It needs rich, well-drained soil with a pH between 5.8 and 6.7. Most important, celery must have uniform moisture. Be prepared to use a good mulch on your crop.

Sowing Use a good seed-germination soil mix . Germination occurs best when temperatures alternate between 60° F at night and 72° F during the day. Keep soil moist, and you'll see seedlings within three weeks. Thin to one plant per cell or container.

Once plants are three to four inches tall, they are ready for the garden. Do not harden off celery by reducing temperatures, however. Rather than toughen plants, this can induce seed-stalk development. Transplant into the garden one week prior to the average last frost date.

If you live in a mild-winter area, you can sow celery seed directly into the garden. Sow the seed thinly and cover with 1/8 inch of soil. After germination, thin seedlings until you have 8 to 10 inches between plants. Remember to mulch as soon as the plants are tall enough not be damaged.

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