When is the best season to plant celery?

Celery, a popular vegetable , prefers cool climate conditions. Although celery can be sown in spring, summer and autumn, the most suitable sowing time is usually in spring and autumn, as the climatic conditions in these two seasons are more in line with the growth requirements of celery. Let’s learn in detail what is the best season to plant celery?

When is the best season to plant celery?

my country has a vast territory and there are significant differences in climatic conditions at different latitudes, which affects the sowing and harvesting time of celery. In northern regions, due to the relatively cold climate, celery is usually sown from June to early July, planted from late August to early September, and can be harvested and put on the market in late October to early November. In the south, due to the warmer climate, the sowing time of celery is relatively late. Taking the Yangtze River Basin as an example, the sowing time of autumn celery is mostly from mid-July to early September, and the harvest period is from October to December.

In the South, due to the mild winter climate, celery can be cultivated outdoors in winter and can safely overwinter and grow for harvest without additional protection measures. In northern regions, celery needs to be grown in greenhouses or other protected areas to ensure its safety during the cold winter. The sowing time for winter celery in the south is usually from the end of September to the beginning of November, and the harvest begins in December. The harvest period can last until April of the following spring, until the celery bolts.

Due to the high temperature in summer, it is not suitable for celery growth, so summer celery is rarely planted and is generally sown around the Great Heat solar term. The sowing of celery in spring is usually carried out in protected areas. Seedlings begin to grow in January, and they are transplanted after the Qingming Festival. They can be harvested after the May Day Labor Day.

Celery Planting Tips

Environmental conditions:

Temperature: The most suitable growing temperature for celery is 15°C to 25°C, and the lowest temperature it can tolerate is minus 5°C. During the growth period, the temperature should be controlled below 30°C, and the optimal temperature for seed germination is about 18°C.

Soil: Celery grows best in well-drained, slightly sticky soil, and the soil pH should be maintained at around 6.5. Soil that is too acidic or too alkaline will affect the growth and quality of celery. If the soil pH is not appropriate, it can be adjusted by adding quicklime .

Light: Celery needs sufficient light, especially during the sowing and germination stages, at least 10 hours of light per day is necessary. Insufficient light will slow germination and reduce germination rates.

Water: Celery has a high demand for water. The soil needs to be kept moist throughout the growing cycle, with humidity between 65% and 80%. Water shortage can cause thickening of petiole tissue, affecting yield and quality.

Variety selection and germination:

Varieties: Common celery varieties include white celery and green celery. The petioles of white celery are white, soft in texture and of better quality; while the petioles of green celery are tall and strong, with a harder texture and higher yield.

Germination: Celery seeds contain about 500 seeds per gram, and the sowing amount per acre is about 30 grams. The seeds need to be soaked for 20 hours, then wrapped with a wet cloth to germinate. The temperature should be controlled at 15°C to 20°C, and watered once a day. They will germinate in about 5 days.

Seedling cultivation:

Choose a plot free of pests and diseases for growing seedlings, and the soil needs to be exposed to the sun until it is dry. Mix soil and decomposed fertilizer in a 1:1 ratio, level it and then sow the seeds. Cover it with a layer of wood ash and fine soil and keep the soil moist. The seedlings are about 30 days old and no fertilizer is needed.

Land preparation:

Choose a plot of land with higher terrain and good drainage, plow it to a depth of 20 cm one month in advance, and expose it to the sun until it is dry. One week before transplanting, apply decomposed fertilizer and quicklime powder, adjust the soil pH, and prepare the land into ridges with a ridge width of 1.2 meters, a ditch depth of 25 centimeters, and a ditch width of 30 centimeters.

Transplanting and planting:

Celery seedlings can be transplanted when they are about 10 cm tall, taking care to protect the root system. The plant spacing is 5 to 10 cm, the row spacing is 15 to 20 cm, and more than 10,000 plants are planted per mu. Water after planting, reduce watering frequency after one week and keep the soil moist.

The above is an introduction to the planting time of celery. As long as you master the planting conditions, it will be no problem to achieve high yields.