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Vegetable (Cool Season) - Parsley Family
Apium graveolens var. dulce
Umbelliferae Family
Perhaps the most difficult vegetable to grow in many areas, this
long-season crop must be started inside. Seeds are slow to germinate,
and if transplanted outside too early, plants will bolt in response to
cold. Also requires consistent moisture and dislikes heat.
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Site Characteristics
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Sunlight:
Prefers full sun.
Soil conditions:
- tolerates damp soil
- requires high fertility
Prefers rich soil, high in organic matter with pH 6.0 to 7.0 and
consistent, plentiful supply of moisture. Can tolerate soils that are
less than well-drained because it was originally a wetland plant.
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Plant Traits
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Lifecycle:
annual
Biennial grown as an annual.
Ease-of-care:
difficult
Seeds
need to be started inside and are difficult to germinate. Cold weather
after transplanting can cause bolting. Needs plentiful moisture and
long season, but doesn’t tolerate heat well.
Foliage color:
medium green
Foliage texture:
medium
Shape:
- cushion, mound or clump
- upright
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Special Considerations
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Tolerates:
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frost - Will tolerate light frost but can be damaged by a moderate frost.
Special characteristics:
- not native to North America
- Mediterranean origin.
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Growing Information
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How to plant:
Propagate by
seed
Germination temperature: 70 F to 75 F
- Optimum when starting indoors.
Days to emergence: 14 to 21
Seed can be saved 5 years.
Maintenance and care:
Start plants inside about 10 to 12 weeks before last frost. Plant
several seeds per cell. Seeds need light to germinate, so don’t cover
seed deeply. Keep soil moist and warm (about 70 F to 75 F) until seeds
germinate in 2 to 3 weeks. After germination, grow inside in a cool
location (about 60 F to 70 F). Thin to one seed per cell.Plants
will withstand light frost, but 10 days with night temperatures below
40 and days below 55 F can cause bolting. So harden plants by reducing
water, not lowering temperature. Set out transplants 6 to 12 inches apart, rows 18 to 36 inches apart, about 2 weeks before average last frost. Plants
are shallow-rooted and require consistent moisture. Lack of water will
make stalks fibrous and bitter. Mulch to retain moisture, suppress
weeds and avoid disturbing roots when cultivating. For a milder flavor, blanch by wrapping stalks two weeks before harvest with paper, a cardboard milk carton or other material.
Pests:
Aphids
Tarnished plant bug
Cabbage loopers
Whiteflies
CutwormsUse floating row covers early in the season, and collars if cutworms are present.
Diseases:
Leaf blights
Celery mosaic
Black heart - calcium deficiency, add limeCelery diseases are rarely a problem in home gardens.
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