Celeriac and celery stalks are popular vegetable plants. Growing it requires patience, but is easy. Celery is not sown directly outdoors, but young plants can be preferred. The following overview shows how to grow and care for the heavy feeder.
How do I successfully plant celery in the garden?
To plant celery successfully, choose a sunny, protected location and nutrient-rich, humus-rich soil. Pre-sow celery in pots and plant the young plants in the garden after the ice saints with sufficient planting distance.
What types of celery are there?
When it comes to celery, a distinction is made between celeriac and celery stalks (also called celery stalks). Popular varieties include Ibis, Mentor and Tango.
Sow celery yourself or is it better to buy young plants?
You can grow celery plants yourself and plant them out after the ice saints. You can get the seeds at a garden store or via garden shipping (€2.00 on Amazon).
A cheap alternative is to buy young plants. From around April, nurseries and garden centers will offer the young celery plants.
The best location for celery
To grow celery, choose a sunny location in a sheltered location. Celery can also be grown in a container.
Good neighbors/bad neighbors
- good neighbors: cucumbers, lettuce, cabbage
- bad neighbors: parsley, carrots, parsnips, fennel
What does the substrate have to be like for growing celery?
As a heavy feeder, celery prefers nutrient-rich, humus-rich soil. Normal garden soil is enhanced by adding fertilizer. To enrich nutrients, dig manure under in the fall or compost before cultivation in the spring.
While growing, support the celery with fertilizer containing potassium. You can ensure good aeration of the soil by regularly hoeing between the plants. In summer, the celery plants need to be watered regularly.
Celery plants can be preferred
The celery plants are grown in a bright, frost-free room. From the end of February, the seeds are sown in small pots and kept only moderately moist.
The important planting distance
Celeriac needs enough space to form he althy, well-shaped tubers. The planting distance should therefore be 40 cm within the row and also between neighboring rows.
A distance of 15 cm is sufficient for celery stalks.
Planting time for celery
After the Ice Saints, i.e. from mid-May, the celery can be planted in the bed. Covering with garden fleece protects against possible late frosts.
How to plant?
- Dig up or loosen the bed
- Make small holes with the planting iron and place plants in them
- Fill with soil and press firmly
- water moderately
Important! In order for the tubers to form well, the heart of the plant must always remain above the ground.
When is harvest time?
The celery harvest begins in June. It does not tolerate frost and must therefore be harvested before the first night frost in October.
Celeriac is harvested from the end of August to December. It can tolerate light frosts down to around -3 degrees Celsius.
Tips & Tricks
Many allotment gardeners offer their products at local weekly markets. You can buy young celery plants inexpensively here.
