Stalk Celery
Utah Celery is a classic cultivar of Apium graveolens that thrives in cool-season gardens, reaching 10 to 30 inches tall with a harvest window of 100 to 200 days depending on your growing season. This variety performs best with full sun to partial shade and can be started indoors 10 to 12 weeks before your last frost date for spring harvest, or timed for fall production in mild climates. The long growing season rewards patient gardeners with mature, harvestable stalks that develop steadily throughout the season.
Partial Sun
High
5-9
30in H x ?in W
Biennial
High
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Utah Celery demands cool soil and consistent moisture but rewards your attention with a reliable harvest spanning several months. Starting seeds indoors in biodegradable pots is the recommended approach, minimizing root shock at transplant time and giving you precise control over timing. The 100 to 200 day window means you can plan either a spring crop or a fall harvest, adapting to your climate's cool season peaks. Space plants 24 inches apart in rows 24 inches apart to give developing stalks room to expand.
Utah Celery is grown for its edible stalks, which are harvested and used fresh in salads, soups, stews, and as a snack vegetable. The stalks can also be cooked, braised, or incorporated into mirepoix and other foundational cooking bases.
Start Utah Celery seeds indoors 10 to 12 weeks before your average last frost date for spring harvest, or 10 to 12 weeks before your intended fall transplant date. Maintain soil temperature at 70°–75°F for optimal germination, pressing seeds into the surface without covering them. Use biodegradable pots to minimize root disturbance when transplanting seedlings outdoors.
Transplant seedlings outdoors 10 to 12 weeks after starting seeds indoors, timing the move for 1 to 2 weeks before your average last frost date for spring crops. Space plants 24 inches apart in rows 24 inches apart. Alternatively, for fall crops in mild climates, transplant 10 to 12 weeks before your target harvest period when cool weather arrives.
In mild climates only, sow seeds directly outside 1 to 2 weeks before your average last frost date and when soil temperature reaches at least 50°F. Direct sowing is not recommended for most gardeners; indoor starting provides better control.
Harvest Utah Celery once stalks reach mature size, typically 100 to 200 days after transplanting depending on growing conditions and season. Cut outer stalks at the base with a sharp knife, allowing inner stalks to continue growing for a prolonged harvest, or cut the entire plant at soil level once it reaches desired size.
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