Celery Donation Tracker

Quick Links: How & Where to Grow | Temperature | How to Care For | Harvest Signs | Harvesting | Blanching | Pests | Companions | Preservation | Recipes | Michigan Tips | Fun Facts

🌱 How & Where to Grow Celery:

• Start seeds 10-12 weeks before frost – celery has one of the longest seed-to-harvest times in the garden!
• Transplant seedlings when soil reaches 50°F and plants are 3-4 inches tall.
• Space plants 6-8 inches apart in rows 24-30 inches apart.
• Needs 16+ weeks of cool weather – patience is essential with celery.
• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade (6+ hours preferred).
• Soil Type: Rich, moisture-retentive soil with pH 5.8-6.8.
• Soil Amendment: Heavy feeder – needs rich soil with lots of organic matter and consistent calcium.

Celery is called “The Garden Challenge” for good reason – it demands perfect conditions and constant attention!

🌡️ Temperature Guidance:

Germinate at 70-75°F. Transplant when soil 50°F. Needs 60-70°F season.

• Seed germination: Needs warm 70-75°F for 2-3 weeks.
• Transplanting: Wait for consistent 50°F soil temperature.
• Growing season: Thrives at 60-70°F days, 50-60°F nights.
• Critical warning: Below 50°F for extended time when young = bolting!
• Heat above 75°F causes bitter, stringy stalks.

Michigan’s variable spring weather makes celery timing tricky – one cold snap can ruin your crop!

💧 How to Care for:

• Consistent Moisture: CRITICAL – celery must never dry out!
• Watering: 1-2 inches per week minimum, more in hot weather.
• Mulch: 3-4 inches of organic mulch essential for moisture retention.
• Fertilizer: Feed every 2 weeks with balanced liquid fertilizer.
• Calcium: Side-dress with lime or gypsum to prevent blackheart.
• Wind protection: Brittle stalks break easily – provide windbreaks.

Think of celery as a marsh plant – it wants constantly moist, rich soil!

📏 Harvest Signs:

14-18 weeks from seed. Stalks 12-18 inches. Base 3+ inches wide.

• Stalks should be thick, crisp, and tightly formed.
• Outer stalks reach 12-18 inches tall when mature.
• Base of plant should be 3+ inches in diameter.
• Can harvest individual stalks or entire plant.
• Best quality before flowering – watch for center stalk elongating.

Don’t rush celery – immature stalks are stringy and flavorless!

🧺 Harvesting:

Cut individual stalks or entire plant. Water day before harvest.

• Water deeply the day before harvesting for crispest stalks.
• For individual stalks: Cut outer stalks at base with sharp knife.
• For whole plant: Cut at soil level or dig with roots.
• Morning harvest provides best quality and storage.
• Trim leaves for cooking – don’t waste them!

Harvest celery in cool weather for sweetest flavor and best storage.

🌿 Blanching:

Optional technique for milder, more tender stalks.

• Method 1: Hill soil around stalks 2-3 weeks before harvest.
• Method 2: Wrap plants with newspaper or cardboard collars.
• Method 3: Plant in trenches and gradually fill.
• Begin blanching when plants are 12 inches tall.
• Modern self-blanching varieties reduce need for this step.

Blanching produces pale, mild celery but reduces nutritional value.

🪲 Michigan Pests:

Blackheart (calcium deficiency), fusarium yellows, armyworms, aphids.

• Blackheart – brown/black inner leaves from calcium deficiency. Maintain consistent watering and add lime.
• Fusarium yellows – yellowing and stunting. Choose resistant varieties.
• Armyworms – caterpillars that chew leaves. Hand-pick or use Bt.
• Aphids – cluster on growing points. Blast off with water.
• Slugs – love moist conditions. Use beer traps or diatomaceous earth.

🫱🏽‍🫲🏼 Companions:

Good with beans, brassicas, leeks.

• Avoid corn, parsnips.
• Beans fix nitrogen for hungry celery.
• Brassicas (cabbage family) share similar growing needs.
• Leeks and onions help repel celery pests.
• Tomatoes may improve celery’s flavor.
• Never plant near corn – competes for nutrients and water.

🫙 Preservation:

Fresh (2 weeks). Freeze blanched. Dehydrate. Celery salt from leaves.

• Fresh storage: Wrap in aluminum foil in crisper – lasts 2-3 weeks.
• Freezing: Blanch chopped stalks 3 minutes, freeze in portions.
• Dehydrating: Slice thin, dry for soup additions.
• Celery salt: Dry leaves, grind with salt – don’t waste those nutritious tops!
• Celery root storage: If grown with roots, store in damp sand.
• Pickling: Makes excellent pickled vegetables.

🧑🏽‍🍳 Recipes:

Classic in soups, celery salt seasoning, braised celery, juice.

• Essential in mirepoix (celery, onions, carrots) for soup base.
• Braised celery hearts – a forgotten vegetable side dish.
• Cream of celery soup – better than canned!
• Celery juice – trendy health drink.
• Waldorf salad – classic celery, apple, and walnut combination.
• Use leaves in stocks, salads, and as herb garnish.

✋🏼 Michigan Tips:

• Start seeds indoors by late January – celery needs every growing day.
• Mulch heavily – Michigan’s variable rainfall requires moisture insurance.
• Windbreaks essential – protect brittle stalks from storms.
• Plant in naturally moist areas of garden if possible.
• Consider self-blanching varieties for easier growing.
• Michigan’s humidity can increase disease pressure – ensure good airflow.

🧠 Fun Facts:

• 95% water but packed with vitamins and minerals.
• Michigan has commercially grown celery for over 100 years.
• Kalamazoo was once known as “Celery City” in the early 1900s.
• Wild celery was mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey.
• Athletes in ancient Greece were crowned with celery leaves.
• One stalk contains about 10 calories but provides 5% of daily potassium needs.