Leaf Celery
Amsterdam Seasoning Celery is a leaf celery cultivar that trades the thick stalks of conventional celery for abundant sprays of tender, flavorful foliage. Rather than forming a single dense head, this biennial produces attractive bunches of leaves perfect for harvesting fresh or drying for seasoning blends. It thrives in full sun with consistent moisture and reaches a mature height of about 12 inches, making it surprisingly compact for a celery variety. Start seeds indoors 6 weeks before warm weather arrives, or direct sow in spring when conditions are cool and settled.
Full Sun
High
?-?
12in H x ?in W
Annual
High
Hover over chart points for details
This variety grows more like an herb than a vegetable, producing harvestable leaf sprays within weeks rather than waiting months for stalks to mature. The leaves air-dry beautifully when hung upside down, concentrating their flavor for year-round seasoning use. Unlike standard celery, Amsterdam Seasoning demands no blanching or staking, yet rewards patient gardeners with continuous leaf harvests from a single, tidy plant.
Amsterdam Seasoning Celery is grown primarily for its leaves, which are harvested fresh as needed for flavoring soups, stocks, and stews. The foliage can also be bundled and hung to air-dry, creating a homemade seasoning that concentrates the plant's celery flavor for use throughout the year. This approach to celery cultivation appeals to gardeners seeking fresh herbs and those interested in preserving their harvest for winter cooking.
Start seeds indoors in early spring, 6 weeks before night temperatures will warm up to 50°F (10°C). Sow seeds 1 to 2 inches apart into seed starting mix and barely cover them. Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy during the 3-week germination period. Provide strong light as soon as seedlings emerge. When seedlings reach 2 to 3 inches tall, transplant groups of 3 to 4 seedlings together, spacing these groups 8 inches apart outdoors.
Transplant seedling groups when they are 2 to 3 inches tall, spacing groups 8 inches apart in full sun or afternoon-shaded areas in hot climates. Plant into well-worked, fertile soil.
Direct sow in spring when weather is settled but still cool. In mild winter climates, seeds can also be started in fall. Sow seeds 1 to 2 inches apart into well-worked, fertile soil and cover 1/4 inch deep. Keep the seedbed evenly moist while awaiting germination. Thin groups of 3 to 4 seedlings to 8 inches apart when several inches tall.
Harvest sprays of leaves as needed once the plant is well established. Rather than removing the entire plant, pinch or cut individual leaf bunches to encourage continued growth. Simply gather leafy bunches and hang them upside down in a cool, well-ventilated place to air-dry for future seasoning use.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.