Celery and its turnip-rooted relative, celeriac, are not easy plants to grow. Their shallow root system, high water requirement and the necessity for heavy applications of compost are the reason for this. As well, keeping the seed-raising mix moist enough for germination and simultaneously avoiding damping-off of the seedlings is difficult. The tiny seed is sown shallowly in a seed bed and the seedlings transplanted into rows 350 mm apart with 250 mm between plants. Early sowings should be under glass. The rows are commonly interspersed with cabbages as the celery repels the cabbage white butterfly. As well as needing copious quantities of well rotted animal manure or compost, celery has a high calcium requirement, so lime must be applied to the preceding crop.
During the growing season, the soil must never be allowed to dry out. In hot weather, this may mean daily or twice daily watering. The water should preferably be applied to the soil surface, rather than by overhead irrigation, as celery is susceptible to several fungal diseases on its leaves.
In Australia, most celery is blanched. That is, the stems of the plant are wrapped in paper to exclude sunlight for two weeks prior to harvest. So-called self-blanching celery will have green outer stems unless this is done. Celery for cooking needs no blanching. Blanching reduces the nutritional value of the plant, so you may wish to follow the American practice of not bothering.
Celery should be mulched, both to conserve moisture and to avoid cultivating around the plants and damaging its shallow root system.
Celeriac is also known as turnip rooted celery. It is grown in a similar way to celery, but needs no blanching. The soil is drawn up around the bulb as it develops, or mulched. Celeriac seed needs even more moisture than celery in order to germinate, so keep the soil in the seed bed very moist. Celeriac is more hardy and disease resistant than celery. The bulb is used for flavouring soups and stews.
| Golden Self Blanching | Early maturing. |
| Stringless American | Up to 60 cm. Normally used unblanched. |
| Giant Red | Deep red stems. Best when blanched. |
| Giant Pink | As above, but pink. |
| Utah Tall | Green variety up to 75 cm tall. |
| S.A. Giant White | Will grow to 1 metre or more in height. |
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© Jonathan Sturm 2003 - 2011