When and how to harvest celery – to pick stems at the peak of their flavor
Avoid tough and stringy celery by harvesting the crop at the ideal time, and get multiple harvests from one plant
![Harvested celery being held in a pair of hands](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/u9hmSMjZyn4gDbMwNx2b4D-415-80.jpg)
A harvest of crunchy and nutritious celery stalks can be a hugely satisfying experience, as it means you have successfully cultivated the tricky crop through its full growing season. Celery does have a reputation for being tough to grow as this cool-season crop has a long season and requires lots of moisture.
When growing celery, you want to harvest the crop when the stalks are the right size and texture. Too soon and they won’t be fully developed, yet wait too long and the celery gets tough and bitter.
It may sound confusing, but we want to help. So let's look at the signs to know when to harvest celery and the different harvesting methods to choose from.
Celery is a great crop to grow as it is low in calories and high in nutrients
Our guide to a great celery harvest
Start celery by sowing seeds indoors in mid-spring and transplant the seedlings into the vegetable garden at around 4-6 inches tall once the risk of frost has passed. Space the plants around 8-12 inches apart and grow the crop in a sunny spot in moisture-retentive soil.
When to harvest celery
Celery can be grown in the ground or in containers
Celery is a crop with a long growing season, so it is preferable to start the crop indoors early in spring or buy transplants to plant the vegetable straight into the garden. It can take 100 to 140 days to mature, depending on the variety and the weather during the growing season.
The season to harvest self-blanching celery is mid-summer through fall, with the crop harvested before the frosts. Traditional trenching varieties of celery are ready to harvest from early fall onwards, into winter if the vegetables are protected from frosts. Check the seed packet for the estimated days to maturity for your variety.
The crop does need regular watering throughout the season, especially during hot weather, as consistent moisture is essential for a good crop of stems to pick. Watering helps the stems swell in size and a lack of moisture will mean disappointingly stringy celery stems.
So, what does celery look like when ready to harvest? The stems will ideally be three inches or more in diameter and at least 6-8 inches in length.
Picking the right time to harvest celery is important. It is preferable to harvest celery as soon as it is ready, when it is most tender, as the longer it grows the tougher it will get. In addition, Rebecca Sears, a gardening expert at Ferry-Morse, recommends: ‘Avoid harvesting celery during a hot, dry spell as it will be tough and stringy.’ Pick a cool time to harvest celery, before the temperature rises above 70F.
Trenching varieties of celery require blanching before harvesting. This can be done by earthing up plants or using covers from mid-summer onwards. Blanching keeps the stalks sweet and tender by protecting them from the sun’s rays. These types can be harvested from early fall onwards once stems reach at least three inches or more in diameter.
As CMO and resident green thumb for the Green Garden family of brands, Rebecca Sears nurtures the company's heritage but also looks to develop new products and solutions to help gardeners of all skill levels fuel their passion and become more successful in the garden. Rebecca has been gardening from coast to coast, first realizing her passion while living in Portland, Oregon, inspired by the public gardens throughout the city.
How to harvest celery
Harvest celery before the stems get tough and bitter
There are two ways to harvest celery, to pick individual stalks to use and allow the rest to grow or harvest the entire head of the plant at once. It is advisable to use clean garden tools, such as a harvesting knife, and wear gloves and long sleeves - such as gardening sleeves, available at Amazon - as celery can irritate the skin.
Ashleigh Smith, the managing editor at True Leaf Market, says: ‘Individual stalks may be harvested as needed from the outer edge, leaving the inner stalks to continue developing.’ The longest stalks around the edge of the plant are the most mature and these can be cut or snapped off to be used. The younger, inner stalks will continue to grow for future harvests.
‘To harvest the whole plant, push the soil away from the crown. Then, cut through the crown just below the soil level but above the roots,’ adds Ashleigh. The crown can either be cut with a knife below the soil line, or the entire plant can be lifted and the head cut from the roots after being removed from the ground.
It is best to use the celery as soon as possible after lifting when it is fresh and crunchy. Older stalks can still be used, as Rebecca Sears recommends using the tougher celery stalks ‘as seasoning in stocks and soups'.
Ashleigh Smith is the Managing Editor at True Leaf Market with a bachelor's degree in horticulture from Brigham Young University - Idaho. True Leaf Market is a nationally certified organic, non-GMO seed and horticultural company based in Salt Lake City, Utah.
A harvesting knife with a precision-ground, stainless steel blade featuring a flat tip for quick push cuts and a serrated section for saw cuts through fibrous plants. Ideal for harvesting thick stalks and stems and comes with a hard plastic sheath with belt loop.
FAQs
How long can you leave celery in the ground?
Celery can tolerate a light frost, but ideally wants to be harvested before the frosts start in your climate. The crop can overwinter in milder US hardiness zones. However, as celery is a biennial plant it will flower and go to seed if left to start growing again in spring. Leaving a few plants to go to seed can give you a crop of celery seeds. These can be used in some recipes, or you can collect seeds to sow for plants next year.
Can you eat celery leaves?
Celery leaves are edible and they can be eaten raw or cooked. The leaves of the plant have the same celery flavor and are highly nutritious. They can be added raw to salads or sandwiches or used in stocks, soups, or sauces.
Will celery regrow after harvest?
It is possible to grow celery from a stalk after harvesting. Sit a 2-inch thick root base of celery in a shallow dish filled with water and place it on a light windowsill. The base will quickly sprout small leaves and shoots and then can be planted in soil around a week later to grow.
Celeriac has a similar taste to celery and is also known as celery root. Rather than being grown for the stalks like celery, however, it is grown for knobbly swollen roots. It is another crop with a long season and you can see more about this great crop in our dedicated guide to growing celeriac.
Sign up to the Homes & Gardens newsletter
Design expertise in your inbox – from inspiring decorating ideas and beautiful celebrity homes to practical gardening advice and shopping round-ups.
Drew’s passion for gardening started with growing vegetables and salad in raised beds in a small urban terrace garden. He has gone on to work as a professional gardener in historic gardens across the UK and also specialise as a kitchen gardener growing vegetables, fruit, herbs, and cut flowers. That passion for growing extends to being an allotmenteer, garden blogger, and producing how-to gardening guides for websites. Drew was shortlisted in the New Talent of the Year award at the 2023 Garden Media Guild Awards.
-
Can you cook on a fire pit? Chefs reveal 4 ways to cook more than s'mores
Chefs reveal if you can cook on a fire pit, and the 4 foolproof methods for backyard grilling. This is all you need to know about cooking on a fire pit
By Alex David Published
-
5 ways to clean jewelry without damaging your precious items
Learn how to clean your jewelry safely
By Seraphina Di Mizzurati Published
-
7 vegetables to plant in September to fill gaps and provide harvests through the colder months ahead
September is an ideal time to sow many vegetable seeds directly into the soil
By Drew Swainston Published
-
How to harvest zucchini seeds – an expert guide to collect, save and store precious seeds
After learning how to harvest these seeds properly, you'll never run out of zucchinis again
By Ciéra Cree Published
-
Forest garden ideas – how to grow edible planting in layers to make the most of your space
Forest gardens grow edibles in layers, and are a clever way to add more fruit, vegetables and herbs into your space, as well as increase biodiversity
By Sarah Wilson Published
-
Standing mowers vs riding mowers – a mowing expert reveals which is best
Standing mowers vs riding mowers is a heated debate among landscapers. I spoke to a landscaping expert to find out if standing mowers really are the best
By Alex David Published
-
Fertilizing zucchini is crucial for healthy plants and higher yields – discover when and how to feed them
Tips for a great feeding regime and how to pick a perfect fertilizer for zucchini
By Drew Swainston Published
-
How to grow lima beans – from sowing to harvesting
Growing lima bean plants can be quick and rewarding, especially if you live in warmer climates where plants will thrive in the sun and heat
By Drew Swainston Published
-
Leaf blowers vs leaf vacuums – which is best for your yard, and should you bother with either?
It's not obvious which is best between leaf blowers v leaf vaccums. As a product tester, this is all you need to know about these controversial yard tools
By Alex David Published
-
7 salad crops to sow in August to liven up fall and winter salads
Discover fast-growing crops to add flavor and texture to salads you can sow this month
By Drew Swainston Published