Growing Celery at the Allotment

Celery is a flavourful, low-maintenance crop that’s easier to grow than you might think. Whether you’re starting from seed or picking up seedlings from your local nursery, growing celery is a rewarding addition to any kitchen garden or allotment.

A savoury staple ingredient, celery is rich in flavour and nutrition perfect for soups, casseroles and other cooked dishes. Its crunchy and crisp texture makes for a refreshing to any salad or snack. There are many varieties to choose from, each differing in size, hardiness, disease resistance, and ideal sowing times.

If you want to find out how to grow celery in your allotment, read our guide to the end for all the tips you need to get started.

How to Grow Celery

Knowing when to plant celery will precede how you should do it! In the UK, you can plant celery seeds indoors from March. Remember to keep the seeds at a regulated temperature. Celery seeds need warmth to germinate, but as the seedlings develop, avoid excessive humidity to prevent fungal issues. It will also take some time before it fully germinates (3 to 4 weeks approx).

Before this, you have to prep the soil a few months in advance. Choose a piece of land that gets proper sunlight but has ample shade as well. The soil has to be fertile and moisture-retentive so it's ready to plant the germinated celery outdoors in late spring (May) or early summer (June).

Celery has a long growing season and needs consistent watering, especially in dry spells. The earlier you start, the better your yield. After hardening off indoors, transplant your celery outdoors from late May onwards, once the risk of frost has passed. 

As mentioned above, an ideal spot would be a semi-shady one with moisture-retentive soil. Full sun and dry conditions can cause the celery to bolt. Dig in plenty of compost, well-rotted manure or high potassium-concentrated fertiliser beforehand and ensure the soil does not dry out quickly. Plant celery in blocks, about 8 inches apart, so the plants can provide shade for one another and retain moisture. 

To keep stalks pale, sweet, and tender, celery should be blanched. This means shielding the stalks from direct sunlight. Lightly tie the stalks with twine just below the leaves, then wrap them with newspaper, leaving the tops exposed. Be sure to keep the wrapping dry—replace it regularly, especially after rainfall.

When growing celery in the UK, protect the vegetation from slugs and celery leaf miners. Wearing gloves is also recommended, as the celery plant can sometimes cause skin irritation. Be prepared to water your garden at regular intervals to grow celery.  Consider adding a layer of mulch to allow water retention.

If exposed to temperatures below 10°C, it could cause your celery plant to flower early, also known as bolting. Keep this from happening by properly hardening the plant or keeping it indoors till early summer. You can cover the plant with cloches or horticulture fleece during the cooler nights.