Whether you garden in the ground, in raised beds, or in containers, celery is a great addition or re-addition to your plant family. Read on for simple, straightforward specifics about growing celery.
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Family | Container Size | Good Companions | Bad Companions | Soil Conditions | Germination | Sun | Water | Temperature Range | Height | Lifespan | Reproduction | Yield Per Plant | Ingestibility | Further Reading
What Family Does Celery Belong To?
Celery (Apium graveolens) belongs to the Apiaceae family, also known as the carrot family.
Some of its relatives include dill, fennel, and parsnips.
What Size Container Should I Use for Growing Celery?
The minimum container depth recommended for celery is 8 inches.
Learn more in our Choosing the Right Planter for Your Container Garden article here.
What Are Good Companion Plants for Celery?
Some of celery's best companions are as follows:
- Spinach
- Onion
- Garlic
- Leek
- Shallot
- Ramps
- Tomato
- Nasturtium
- Cauliflower, mizuna, and other Brassicas with the exception of turnips. Celery is an especially good companion for most Brassicas because it repels cabbage moths.
- Beans like green beans
- Cucumber
- Daisy
- Cosmos
- Lavender
- Marigold
- Snapdragon
- Marjoram
- Marshmallow
- Watercress
What Are Bad Companion Plants for Celery?
Celery is not compatible with every plant. Some things to avoid planting with celery are as follows:
You'll notice that a few of these are fellow Apiaceae members. See our Apiaceae family page here to learn why that is the case.
What Soil Conditions Does Celery Need?
Celery prefers rich, light, moist soil with a pH of 5.8 to 6.8.
It tolerates "wet feet" and standing water much better than most vegetables, though it still should not be left in soggy conditions for an extended period of time.
How Long Does Celery Take to Germinate?
Celery takes 2-3 weeks to germinate at a temperature of 60-80°F.
How Much Sun Does Celery Need?
Celery can grow in full sun to part shade. Ideally, it should receive 6 hours of sunlight per day in most areas. This is just inside the full sun range.
In other words, it grows fastest when it receives right around 6 hours of daily sun. It will still grow in shadier environments such as dappled shade and part shade, just at a slower rate.
Sun recommendations can vary by region, and celery grown in hot areas or in warmer conditions than the ideal temperature range noted below may need more shade.
How Much Water Does Celery Need?
Celery needs 1-2 inches of water per week.
Depending on temperature and humidity, watering may need to be done in smaller, more frequent amounts since celery likes its soil to remain moist.
What Is the Ideal Temperature Range for Growing Celery?
Celery grows fastest in temperatures of 55-70°F.
This is its ideal temperature range. Although it will grow in temperatures both cooler and warmer than this range, the growth could be slower or even stunted.
Minimum and maximum temperatures will vary by variety. Some celery varieties are bred for fall harvests and others for warmer climates.
Most celeries are hardy to the upper 30s but do not tolerate frost.
How Tall Does Celery Get?
The average height of celery is 1-2 feet.
Is Celery Annual, Biennial, or Perennial?
Celery is technically a biennial vegetable, meaning that its life cycle spans 2 years, and it flowers, produces seed, and dies in its second year.
But it is usually grown as an annual, meaning that it starts and ends its life in the same year.
Like many other carrot family members, celery's stalks and root become bitter in its second year as the plant prepares to reproduce. Its leaves and leaf stalks are still usable until the plant bolts, at which time they become bitter. Celery flowers and seeds are also edible and can be used at that time.
How Does Celery Reproduce?
Celery reproduces by seed.
How Much Celery is Produced Per Plant?
For celery, how much is produced per plant (also called the yield) largely depends on the type of celery and, at times, the variety.
Most celeries yield 6-8 stalks per plant.
Can Celery Be Ingested?
Celery stalks, leaves, leaf stems, flowers, seeds, and roots are edible.
Celery leaves and seeds have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. They can be used in herbal preparations. The most common preparations are tea and herbal vinegar, but they can also be used in a tincture. An herb:solvent weight ratio of 1:4 at 40% alcohol is suggested for a celery leaf or seed tincture.
There are no known safety concerns associated with ingesting celery stalks, leaves, leaf stems, flowers, seeds, or roots.
Further Reading
This article is intended as a quick-reference guide for gardeners. Consult your seed packet or seed catalog for variety-specific information.
When you have a bumper crop of celery rolling in, you may not have enough time for long, complicated recipes or many-step preservation procedures. Check out my article on quick, simple uses for celery here!
Celery is featured in these Plant to Plate articles: