Celery Planting Guide
Celery is a marshland plant that requires consistent moisture and cool temperatures to produce crisp, flavorful stalks. It is a rewarding but demanding garden crop.
Apium graveolens · Vegetable · Apiaceae family · 80–120 days to maturity
Get Your Personalized Celery Planting Dates
Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.
Where Can You Grow Celery?
Celery Growing Regions
Click any state to see the Celery planting schedule for that location.
Planting Dates by Zone
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Transplant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 2a | Apr 18 | May 23 | May 30 | Aug 22 – Oct 17 |
| Zone 2b | Apr 10 | May 15 | May 22 | Aug 14 – Oct 9 |
| Zone 3a | Apr 3 | May 8 | May 15 | Aug 7 – Sep 18 |
| Zone 3b | Mar 29 | May 3 | May 10 | Aug 2 – Sep 13 |
| Zone 4a | Mar 25 | Apr 29 | May 6 | Jul 29 – Sep 23 |
| Zone 4b | Mar 20 | Apr 24 | May 1 | Jul 24 – Sep 18 |
| Zone 5a | Mar 21 | Apr 11 | Apr 25 | Jul 18 – Sep 12 |
| Zone 5b | Mar 14 | Apr 4 | Apr 18 | Jul 11 – Sep 5 |
| Zone 6a | Mar 6 | Mar 27 | Apr 10 | Jul 3 – Aug 28 |
| Zone 6b | Feb 27 | Mar 20 | Apr 3 | Jun 26 – Aug 21 |
| Zone 7a | Feb 18 | Mar 11 | Mar 25 | Jun 17 – Aug 12 |
| Zone 7b | Feb 11 | Mar 4 | Mar 18 | Jun 10 – Aug 5 |
| Zone 8a | Feb 1 | Feb 22 | Mar 8 | May 31 – Jul 26 |
| Zone 8b | Jan 21 | Feb 11 | Feb 25 | May 20 – Jul 15 |
| Zone 9a | Jan 13 | Jan 20 | Feb 10 | May 5 – Jun 30 |
| Zone 9b | Dec 28 | Jan 4 | Jan 25 | Apr 19 – Jun 14 |
| Zone 10a | Dec 4 | Dec 11 | Jan 1 | Mar 26 – May 21 |
| Zone 10b | Dec 4 | Dec 11 | Jan 1 | Mar 26 – May 21 |
Why are some columns showing "—"?
Transplant shows "—" because Celery is best direct sown where it will grow. Transplanting can disturb the roots and slow growth.
How to Plant Celery
🍂 Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.
Growing Conditions
☀️ Sun
Full Sun (6-8+ hours)
💧 Water
High — keep soil consistently moist
Keep soil consistently moist. Mulch heavily to retain moisture.
🧪 Soil pH
6 – 7
Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.
🗺️ Hardiness Zones
Zone 2a – 10b
📅 Days to Maturity
80–120 days
Medium-season crop. Start early for best results in shorter seasons.
👪 Plant Family
Apiaceae
Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Apiaceae family crops grew last year.
Succession Planting Celery
Celery matures in just 80–120 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 2 successive plantings by sowing every 9.1 weeks.
Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.
Companion Planting for Celery
✅ Good Companions
❌ Keep Away From
Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →
Growing Tips for Celery
Start seeds indoors 10-12 weeks before last frost. Keep soil consistently moist and never let it dry out. Blanch stalks by mounding soil or using collars for milder flavor.
Saving Celery Seeds
Recommended for Your Garden
Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.
Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.
Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.
Level Up Your Garden
Celery by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to grow Celery?
Celery (Apium graveolens) takes 80 to 120 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.
What zones can Celery grow in?
Celery can be grown in USDA zones 2a through 10b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.
How much sun does Celery need?
Growing Celery requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), High — keep soil consistently moist, and soil pH of 6 to 7.