Grow celery in full sun, in soil that stays moist, and never let the bed dry out. Celery is Apium, a biennial grown as an annual for its crunchy stalks.
Give it full sun and soil that never dries out
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Light | Full sun, at least six hours | Do not grow it in deep shade, where stalks stay thin |
| Water | Keep the soil moist all season. Give about 1 to 2 inches of water a week, and more when days stay hot | Do not let the bed dry out. A dry week makes the stalks stringy and strong-flavored |
| Soil | Rich, moist loam with compost worked in; the roots are shallow | Do not plant it in a dry, sandy pocket you cannot water |
| Feed | Work compost into the bed before you plant, then side-dress once or twice after the plants take hold | Do not leave the soil poor and dry |
| Heat | Water more often when days stay hot, so the stalks stay tender | Do not let heat hit a dry bed |
celery wants an open, sunny bed and ground that stays moist. Dry soil is the usual reason stalks turn stringy and bitter. [1] The plant came from wet ground, so it can take a moist bed, but it still fails when the roots dry. [2] If you are starting seed this spring, the indoor window and spacing are on Planting Celery. When to cut stalks is on Harvesting Celery.
- Set it in full sun. Light afternoon shade is tolerable in heat, but the stalks stay thicker in open light.
- Water enough that the soil never dries. Soak the bed, because the roots are shallow and a dry week toughens the stalks. [3]
- Mulch when the plants are a few inches tall so the surface stays moist and you do not nick the shallow roots with a hoe.
How much sun does celery need?
Full sun, at least six hours. Deep shade makes thin stalks.
How often should I water celery?
Keep the soil moist all season. About 1 to 2 inches a week is a starting point, and more when days stay hot. Do not let the bed dry out.
Grow it in a pot that stays moist
A patio pot works when the pot is deep enough for the shallow roots and has a hole in the bottom. Keep the mix moist, because a pot dries faster than open ground.
- Choose a pot at least 8 inches deep with a drainage hole. Empty the saucer so the roots do not sit in standing water.
- Use a potting mix that holds moisture, not packed garden soil. Mix in compost so the pot does not dry out between waterings.
- Water as soon as the surface of the mix begins to dry. Give at least six hours of sun, or a grow light, because a windowsill crop stays thinner than a garden plant.
Can I grow celery in a pot?
Yes. Use a pot with a hole, a mix that holds moisture, and water as soon as the surface begins to dry. The stalks will be thinner than a garden crop.
Not lovage
Celery is Apium, grown as an annual for thick, crunchy stalks. [4] Lovage is a tall perennial with a similar celery scent. It comes back from the crown and is not this crop. Parsley is Petroselinum, a kitchen herb with broader leaflets — see How to Grow Parsley. Fennel is Foeniculum, a taller plant with feathery leaves — see How to Grow Fennel. Dill is Anethum, an annual with fine foliage — see How to Grow Dill.
Is celery the same as lovage?
No. This plant is Apium, grown for thick stalks. Lovage is a tall perennial with a similar scent. It comes back from the crown.
Set it in full sun in soil that stays moist, never let the bed dry out, and confirm the tag is not lovage.
FAQ
Will celery come back next year?
Usually no as a kitchen crop. It is a biennial grown as an annual. Frost ends the stalks. A plant that winters may flower in the second year instead of making thick petioles.
Can I grow celery from a grocery stalk?
You can stand the base in water until leaves appear, then pot it. You will get leaves, not a grocery bunch. For thick stalks, start seed.
Is celeriac the same as celery?
It is the same species, grown for a swollen base instead of thick stalks. The plant here is stalk celery. Celeriac wants the same moist ground, but it is not this garden celery.
Is leaf celery a different plant?
Leaf celery, sometimes sold as smallage, is the same species grown for thin, strong-flavored stems and leaves. The plant here is stalk celery.
Can the sap irritate skin?
The sap can raise a rash on some people in strong sun. Wear sleeves when you handle a lot of foliage, and wash skin after you cut.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Utah State University Extension -
https://extension.usu.edu/yardandgarden/research/celery-in-the-garden - [2] Cornell Home Gardening -
http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/sceneb528.html - [3] University of Kentucky Center for Crop Diversification -
https://ccd.uky.edu/sites/default/files/2024-11/ccd-cp-092_celery-and-celeriac.pdf - [4] NC State Extension -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/apium-graveolens/
This note is part of Apium Guides.
More first-season notes by plant are gathered in How to Grow Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors