How to grow celery
Apium graveolens · Apiaceae · Vegetable
When to plant celery: the short answer
Start seeds indoors about 10 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out around the last frost date. Seeds germinate in soil from 55 to 75°F, fastest near 70°F.
Zone 5: plant out Apr 23 – May 10. Zone 7: plant out Mar 29 – Apr 15. Zone 9: plant out Feb 13 – Mar 2. See every zone.
Celery is a cool-season vegetable in the Apiaceae family, usually started indoors and set out as transplants. It wants full sun, though it tolerates a little afternoon shade in hot regions and plenty of water, especially in hot weather. From sowing to first pick is about 100–140 days. It shrugs off a light frost but a hard freeze will damage it.
Grower’s note: Demands constant moisture and a long, cool season - it strings and turns bitter in hot, dry weather. Surface-sow the tiny seed (it needs light) and keep it under lights for the slow 2-3 week germination. Self-blanching types save trenching.
Sowing
Sow barely covered — the seed needs light to germinate, into soil between 55–75°F — germination is quickest near 70°F. It is slow and often erratic to germinate (14–21 days). For an early crop, start seed indoors about 10 weeks before your last spring frost and grow it under bright light.
Spacing & layout
Give each plant about 8″ along the row with roughly 24″ between rows. On a square-foot grid that is 4 per square foot. Allow at least 12″ of loose, workable soil for the roots. It grows well in containers at least 10″ deep.
Fitting it to your season
As a cool-season crop, celery does its best growing in the mild weather of spring and fall and tends to bolt or turn bitter in summer heat.
Quick facts
Growth stages: how long celery takes to grow
From seed to first harvest takes roughly 24-30 weeks: about 10 weeks as a seedling indoors, then 100-140 days in the garden.
When to plant celery
When to plant celery by USDA zone
Dates worked out from each zone’s typical frost dates for 2026. Find your zone on the zone map, or pick your state below for dates from its own frost dates. Zones 11 and above are frost-free, so timing there depends on heat and rain instead.
| Zone | Last / first frost | Start indoors | Sow or plant out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May 15 / Sep 15 | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | May 8 – May 25 |
| Zone 4 | May 10 / Sep 25 | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | May 3 – May 20 |
| Zone 5 | Apr 30 / Oct 5 | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | Apr 23 – May 10 |
| Zone 6 | Apr 15 / Oct 15 | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | Apr 8 – Apr 25 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 5 / Oct 25 | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Mar 29 – Apr 15 |
| Zone 8 | Mar 20 / Nov 5 | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | Mar 13 – Mar 30 |
| Zone 9 | Feb 20 / Nov 30 | Dec 5 – Dec 19 | Feb 13 – Mar 2 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 30 / Dec 15 | Nov 14 – Nov 28 | Jan 23 – Feb 9 |
Companions
Leek, Onion, Cabbage, Bush Bean, Tomato
Carrot, Parsnip
Common problems
Pests: aphids, celery leaftier, slugs, carrot rust fly.
Diseases & disorders: early blight, late blight, fusarium yellows, bacterial leaf spot.
Same family (Apiaceae)
Rotate these so they don’t follow each other in the same bed year to year.
Questions gardeners ask
When should I plant celery?
Start seeds indoors about 10 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out around the last frost date. Seeds germinate in soil from 55 to 75°F. The table on this page gives dates for each USDA zone, and the planting calendar gives dates for your own state or ZIP code.
How long does celery take to grow?
About 100-140 days from transplanting to the first harvest, or roughly 24-30 weeks from sowing the seed indoors. Seeds germinate in 14-21 days.
How much sun does celery need?
It needs six or more hours of sun for the best growth, though four to six hours in partial shade is enough.
What soil pH does celery need?
A soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Test before adding lime or sulfur - see the soil pH and testing guide.
How far apart should I plant celery?
Space plants about 8 inches apart in rows 24 inches apart, or 4 per square foot in a square-foot bed. Sow seeds about ⅛ inch deep.
Can I grow celery in a container?
Yes. Use a container at least 10 inches deep with drainage holes and a good potting mix, and water more often than you would in the ground.
Figures are typical home-garden ranges from Cooperative Extension planting guides, cross-checked against multiple state sources. Your variety and conditions will vary.