How To Grow Celery in Australia

Quick Guide: Growing Celery

• Optimal Growing Temperatures: Between 12°C and 21°C.
• Ready to Harvest: 17-18 weeks after planting.
• Space Between Plants: Plant 15-30 cm apart.
• Companion Plants: Not applicable as celery needs to be close together to encourage blanching.
• Non-Companion Plants: Corn
• Plant Type: Seed.

When to Plant Celery in Australia

Getting Started with Celery Cultivation

If you're considering growing celery in Australia, you're in for a rewarding gardening experience. Here, I'll guide you through the initial steps of celery cultivation, starting with choosing the right celery variety and preparing the soil for celery.

Choosing the Right Celery Variety

When it comes to selecting a celery variety for your garden, consider factors such as climate, taste preferences, and disease resistance. In Australia, popular celery varieties include:

Choose a celery variety that suits your preferences and growing conditions. Ensure you source your seeds or seedlings from reputable suppliers to ensure quality and authenticity.

Preparing the Soil for Celery

Celery thrives in fertile, well-draining soil. Before planting, it's important to prepare the soil to create optimal growing conditions for your celery plants. Follow these steps:

1. Clear the area: Remove any weeds, rocks, or debris from the planting area.
2. Loosen the soil: Use a garden fork or tiller to loosen the soil to a depth of about 12 inches (30 cm). This helps improve drainage and allows the roots to penetrate easily.
3. Amend the soil: Add well-rotted compost or organic matter to enrich the soil with nutrients and improve its structure. Aim for a pH level between 6.0 and 7.0, which is ideal for celery growth.
4. Level the soil: Rake the soil to create a smooth, level surface, ensuring there are no depressions or mounds that could cause uneven water distribution.

Remember to water the soil thoroughly a day or two before planting to ensure it is adequately moist.

Now that you have chosen the right celery variety and prepared the soil, you're ready to move on to the next step: sowing celery seeds. Stay tuned to learn more about indoor and outdoor sowing techniques in our upcoming section. 

Happy gardening!

Sowing Celery Seeds

When it comes to cultivating celery, you have two options for sowing the seeds: indoor sowing and outdoor sowing. Each method has its own advantages, and it's important to choose the one that suits your needs and growing conditions.

Indoor Sowing

Indoor sowing allows you to get a head start on your celery plants by starting them indoors before transplanting them outside. This method is ideal if you live in an area with a shorter growing season or if you want to have more control over the growing conditions.

To start indoor sowing, follow these steps:

1. Fill a seed tray or pots with a good quality seed starting mix. Make sure the mix is well-draining to prevent waterlogging.
2. Sow the celery seeds on the surface of the soil, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
3. Lightly cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil or vermiculite.
4. Place the tray or pots in a warm location with indirect sunlight. Aim for a temperature of around 70°F (21°C).
5. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Use a spray bottle or a misting nozzle to avoid disturbing the seeds.
6. Germination should occur within 2 to 3 weeks. Once the seedlings have developed their second set of leaves, they can be transplanted outdoors.

Outdoor Sowing

If you live in an area with a mild climate or a long growing season, you can directly sow celery seeds outdoors. Outdoor sowing is a convenient method that eliminates the need for transplanting seedlings, saving you time and effort.

To sow celery seeds directly outdoors, follow these steps:

1. Prepare the soil by removing any weeds and loosening it with a garden fork or tiller. Celery prefers a well-draining soil rich in organic matter.
2. Create shallow trenches in the soil, about 1/8 to 1/4 inch deep and 12 to 18 inches apart.
3. Sow the celery seeds along the trenches, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
4. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil or vermiculite.
5. Water the soil gently to keep it moist. Avoid overwatering, as it can lead to seed rot or fungal diseases.
6. As the seedlings emerge and grow, thin them out to maintain a 6 to 8 inches spacing between plants.

You can kickstart your celery cultivation journey by choosing between indoor and outdoor sowing methods. Remember to provide your celery plants with the right care and attention, including proper watering, fertilisation, and protection against pests and diseases. For more tips on nurturing your celery plants, refer to this article's section on nurturing your celery plants.

Next, we'll explore the essential steps for nurturing your celery plants to ensure healthy growth and a bountiful harvest.

Nurturing Your Celery Plants

Proper nurturing is essential to ensure your celery plants' healthy growth. This includes paying attention to watering and drainage, fertilising celery, and protecting celery from pests and diseases.

Watering and Drainage

Celery plants require consistent moisture to thrive. Water celery regularly, keeping the soil evenly moist but not soggy. Aim to provide approximately 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week through rainfall or irrigation. Be sure to water deeply to encourage the roots to grow.

Proper drainage is equally important to prevent waterlogging, which can lead to root rot. Ensure the soil has good drainage, or consider planting celery in raised beds or containers with well-draining soil. Adding organic matter, such as compost, can help improve its drainage capabilities.

Fertilising Celery

To promote healthy growth and ensure an abundant harvest, it's important to fertilise celery appropriately. Start by preparing the soil with well-composted organic matter before planting. This will provide a good foundation of nutrients for your celery plants.

During the growing season, apply a balanced fertiliser every three to four weeks to replenish the nutrient supply. Choose a fertiliser specifically formulated for vegetables or use a general-purpose organic fertiliser. Follow the package instructions for proper application rates.

Avoid over-fertilizing, as this can lead to excessive leaf growth at the expense of celery stalk development. Always water the plants after fertilising to help distribute the nutrients evenly.

Protecting Celery from Pests and Diseases

Like any other plant, celery is susceptible to pests and diseases. To protect your celery plants, it's essential to be vigilant and take preventive measures.

Common pests affecting celery include aphids, slugs, snails, and celery leaf miners. Monitor your plants regularly and take action at the first sign of infestation. Use organic pest control methods, such as handpicking pests, applying natural insecticides, or introducing beneficial insects to control pest populations.

Celery is also prone to diseases like leaf blight, root rot, and powdery mildew. To minimise the risk of these diseases, ensure proper spacing between plants to promote airflow and reduce humidity. Avoid watering the foliage and use drip irrigation or soaker hoses to water at the base of the plants. Remove any infected or dead plant material promptly to prevent the spread of diseases.

By being proactive in your approach to watering, fertilising, and pest and disease management, you can ensure the health and vitality of your celery plants. For more information on cultivating various vegetables and herbs, check out our other articles in our A-Z Growing Guides.

Harvesting and Storing Celery

Once your celery plants have reached maturity, it's time to harvest and store them properly to enjoy their fresh, crunchy goodness. Here are some tips on signs of celery readiness, proper harvesting techniques, and storing celery for longevity.

Signs of Celery Readiness

Knowing when your celery is ready for harvest is essential to ensure optimal flavour and texture. Look out for the following signs to determine if your celery is ripe and ready to be harvested:

1. Size: Mature celery stalks are typically 12-18 inches long and have a diameter of about 1-1.5 inches. The stalks should be firm and sturdy.
2. Colour: The stalks should be a vibrant green throughout, with no signs of yellowing or browning. The leaves should also be green and healthy-looking.
3. Texture: Gently touch the stalks to check if they are firm and crisp. Avoid harvesting celery that feels soft or wilted.

Observing these indicators ensures that your celery is at its peak flavour and ready to be enjoyed.

Proper Harvesting Techniques

To harvest celery properly, follow these steps:

1. Timing: Choose a dry day to harvest your celery. Early morning or late afternoon is usually the best time, as the plants are well-hydrated but not wet.
2. Cutting: Use a sharp knife or garden shears to cut the celery stalks at the base, just above the soil level. Make sure to cut cleanly and avoid damaging nearby stalks or the plant's crown.
3. Selective Harvesting: If you prefer to harvest only a few stalks at a time, carefully remove the outer stalks while leaving the inner ones intact. This allows the remaining stalks to grow and provides a continuous supply of fresh celery.

Remember to leave a few stalks in the ground to allow the plant to keep growing and producing more celery for future harvests.

Storing Celery for Longevity

To extend the shelf life of your harvested celery, it's important to store it properly. Follow these tips to keep your celery fresh and crisp:

1. Trimming: Before storing, trim the leafy tops of the celery stalks, leaving about an inch of the stalk attached. This helps to prevent moisture loss and maintain the freshness of the celery.
2. Moisture: Celery prefers a humid environment. To keep it crisp, wrap the stalks loosely in a damp paper towel or place them in a perforated plastic bag. Avoid sealing the celery completely; it needs some airflow to prevent moisture buildup.
3. Refrigeration: Store the wrapped celery in the refrigerator's crisper drawer or a cool and humid section. The ideal temperature range for celery storage is between 32-40°F (0-4°C).

Properly stored celery can last for up to two weeks, retaining its crispness and flavour. However, for the best taste and nutritional value, consuming it as soon as possible after harvesting is recommended.

By following these guidelines for harvesting and storing celery, you can enjoy the rewards of your hard work and savour the freshness of homegrown produce. Happy harvesting!

Bonus Tips for Successful Celery Cultivation

To ensure a thriving celery crop, here are some bonus tips and techniques to help you achieve successful celery cultivation.

Companion Planting with Celery

Companion planting involves strategically placing plants together that complement each other's growth and repel pests. Regarding celery, some ideal companions include spinach, endive, peas, and chicory. These plants not only provide a favourable environment for celery to grow but also help deter pests that are attracted to celery. 

Continuous Harvesting

Rather than harvesting the entire celery plant at once, consider practising continuous harvesting. This involves selectively cutting stalks as needed, allowing the remaining stalks to continue growing. By harvesting only what you need, you can enjoy fresh celery throughout the growing season while encouraging the plant to produce more stalks. This method ensures a steady supply of celery and prolongs the harvest period.

Extending the Celery Growing Season

To extend the celery growing season, there are a few techniques you can employ. One method is to start celery seeds indoors before the growing season begins. This allows you to get a head start on your crop and transplant seedlings into the garden at the appropriate time. Additionally, using row covers or cloches can help protect celery plants from frost, allowing you to continue growing even as temperatures drop. 

By implementing these bonus tips, you can optimise your celery cultivation and enjoy a bountiful harvest. Remember to experiment with different companion plants, practice continuous harvesting, and explore methods to extend the growing season. Happy gardening!