Celery, where did I go wrong?

[Jason L]

I planted 4 celery seedlings 70 days ago but they have not grown beyond just the leafy part that you find at the end of the stalks bought at the grocery store. Why did my celery not grow stalks? Being new to gardening this wouldn't be my first mistake.

[tomc]

its been cool which may have slowed things down. Celery are also water-hogs. I had to water mine every day it did not rain.

Its also early yet.

[rainbowgardener]

Tom is right, but 70 days is a long time. Are they getting everything they need re sun, water, fertile soil?

What has the weather been like where you are and what was it like 70 days ago? Celery is a cool weather crop. I start mine from seed in January and plant the seedlings out before my last frost date. I've have full sized celery for awhile now and really need to harvest the last of it.

[Jason L]

Temps have been up and down from mid 70s to 90F during the day and as low as 60F at night but more than half the time it's been around 80-85F during the day with a low around 75 at night. My garden faces south and so has sun almost all day. We haven't had a lot of rain but when it has it soaked the garden real good and it stayed wet for a day or two after. I water the garden daily in the evening as the sun is setting. I make sure to do so until water stays in puddles in the walkways between my mounds (about 15 minutes with hose with nozzle). Everything else is doing great.

[rainbowgardener]

Optimum growth occurs at air temperatures of 60° to 70° F (16° to 21° C). Air temperatures of 75° F (C) or above can slow the plant's growth rate and turn the leaf edges brown. This crop will withstand light frosts in the fall but is damaged by several moderate freezes. Celery needs lots of water during the growing season to stay tender and flavorful. Mulch to keep the soil moist and cool. In warmer climates, grow celery as winter crop.

http://www.weekendgardener.net/vegetables/celery.htm

[Jason L]

I see so, too hot like it was for spinach (bolted before it even grew any leaves for harvesting) and possibly not enough water. Is there any hope for these plants to produce? I'm guessing next year I need to plant celery early like at or before I plant my spinach? We usually get frosts up until mothers day here in SE MI.

[imafan26]

It is really hard to grow regular celery. I grow cutting celery instead. It is a more primitive form of celery and it is more bitter but can handle heat better. It is fine for soups and stews and flavoring but not for celery sticks. Besides, I can't use a whole celery from the grocery store so it is convenient to have the cutting celery available when I need it right outside my door. I do have to replace mine though since it is blooming for the second time and usually does not survive past that point.

[rainbowgardener]

Dunno, I'm sure it has something to do with climate - growing in Hawaii is very different from growing in Cincinnati, OH. I always heard that regular celery was difficult to grow, but I've been growing it the past few years from seed, and it has been very easy and low maintenance. But I do start it very early and it is about done now. I just cut most of it down , just leaving some little new stems in the center to see what they would do.

[ElizabethB]

Jason - welcome to the forum. My question is how deep did you plant your starts? Planting too deep could result in lots of leaves but no stalks. The heat is another issue. In south Louisiana we plant celery seed directly in the soil in late summer early fall for late spring harvest.

Good luck

[Jason L]

My brother helped me plant so I'm not real sure how deep. Maybe an inch. They were seedlings when planted. Maybe I should start from seed next year?

[rainbowgardener]

not necessarily. I do start celery from seed, but I start it indoors and then transplant the seedlings same as you did. But the only part that gets buried is the roots. I plant them at the same level in the ground as they were in the little pots.