When to plant celery by city
Start celery indoors 10–12 weeks before your last frost, plant them out up to 2 weeks after your last frost. Here is what that means for 2027 in cities across the US, using each city’s average frost dates (NOAA 1991–2020). Pick the city with the climate most like yours, or enter your ZIP code above.
| City | Last frost | Start indoors | Plant out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA (9a) | Mar 13 | Dec 19 – Jan 2 | Mar 13–27 |
| Portland, OR (8b) | Feb 25 | Dec 3–17 | Feb 25 – Mar 11 |
| Sacramento, CA (9b) | Jan 12 | Oct 20 – Nov 3 | Jan 12–26 |
| Phoenix, AZ (10a) | Jan 5 | Oct 13–27 | Jan 5–19 |
| Salt Lake City, UT (7b) | Mar 31 | Jan 6–20 | Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Denver, CO (6a) | Apr 30 | Feb 5–19 | Apr 30 – May 14 |
| Dallas, TX (8b) | Mar 2 | Dec 8–22 | Mar 2–16 |
| Minneapolis, MN (5a) | Apr 23 | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | Apr 23 – May 7 |
| Kansas City, MO (6b) | Apr 4 | Jan 10–24 | Apr 4–18 |
| Chicago, IL (6b) | Apr 10 | Jan 16–30 | Apr 10–24 |
| Columbus, OH (6b) | Apr 20 | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Apr 20 – May 4 |
| Nashville, TN (7b) | Apr 1 | Jan 7–21 | Apr 1–15 |
| Atlanta, GA (8a) | Mar 24 | Dec 30 – Jan 13 | Mar 24 – Apr 7 |
| Raleigh, NC (8a) | Mar 28 | Jan 3–17 | Mar 28 – Apr 11 |
| Philadelphia, PA (7b) | Mar 30 | Jan 5–19 | Mar 30 – Apr 13 |
| Boston, MA (7a) | Apr 4 | Jan 10–24 | Apr 4–18 |
In frost-free parts of Florida, southern California and the Gulf Coast, timing is about heat instead: grow celery from fall through winter.
Celery spacing
In a square-foot bed, plant 4 per square foot. In traditional rows, space plants about 8 inches apart with 24 inches between rows.
Needs constant moisture. Cold nights after transplant make it bolt.
How to grow celery
Celery is one of the more demanding vegetables: it needs a long, cool season, constant moisture and rich soil, and it bolts if young plants get too cold. Gardeners who meet those needs get stalks with far more flavor than store-bought.
Sun and soil
Full sun, or light afternoon shade in hot areas. Rich, moisture-retentive soil high in organic matter with a pH of about 6.0–7.0. Celery has small, shallow roots; give it 1–2 inches of water a week and never let it dry out.
Planting
- Start seeds indoors 10–12 weeks before the last frost. Soak seed overnight, then press it onto the surface or cover very lightly, about ⅛ inch; it needs light to germinate and takes 2–3 weeks.
- Transplant from the last frost date to 2 weeks after, once soil is at least 50°F.
- Wait until nights stay reliably above about 50°F; a week or more of colder nights can make young plants bolt later.
- Space plants 8 inches apart in rows 24 inches apart; close spacing encourages tall stalks.
Care
- Water often and deeply. Dry soil makes stalks stringy and bitter and causes blackheart.
- Side-dress with nitrogen about 4 and 8 weeks after transplanting.
- Mulch to keep soil cool and moist, and weed shallowly; celery competes poorly.
- For milder, paler stalks, wrap them with cardboard or mound soil around them for the last 2 weeks. Modern green varieties do not need it.
Harvest
Pick outer stalks once they are 8 inches or longer, or cut the whole plant at the base when it is about 3 inches across. Inner stalks are the most tender. Hot, dry weather makes stalks tough.
Common problems
- Blackheart: Dark, rotting center leaves from a calcium shortage in the growing tip, brought on by uneven watering. Water evenly and do not overdo nitrogen.
- Bolting: Young plants exposed to extended cold send up flower stalks. Do not transplant too early, and protect plants on cold nights.
- Aphids: Curled leaves. Spray with water or insecticidal soap.
- Leaf blights: Spots that spread in wet weather. Water at the base and remove infected leaves.
Varieties to try
- 'Utah 52-70' — standard green celery, compact and reliable
- 'Tango' — tender hybrid, less stringy, more tolerant of stress
Crop rotation
Celery belong to the carrot family (Apiaceae). Carrot rust fly and leaf blights carry over. Light feeders. Relatives that count as the same family for rotation: carrot, parsnip, parsley, cilantro, dill.
Frequently asked questions
When should I plant celery?
What grows well with celery?
What should not be planted with celery?
How far apart should I plant celery?
How long do celery take to grow?
Can celery handle frost?
Sources
- Frost dates: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
- Hardiness zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, USDA-ARS and PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University.
- Planting windows and spacing: Vegetable Planting Guide (GardenNotes #720), Colorado State University Extension, and other land-grant extension guides.
- Celery in the Garden — Utah State University Extension