How to Grow Celery from Seed? A Detailed Guide to Sowing and Raising Celery Seeds

Celery is a common vegetable on the dining table, and many people enjoy eating crisp and tender celery. So how do you grow celery from seed? Let's take a look together below.

1. Cultivation season

When celery is grown in the open field in North China, autumn has the longest climate suitable for celery growth, so the yield, quality and cultivation area are also the largest. Celery can also be grown in various protected structures to achieve year-round supply. For general spring cultivation, seedlings are raised in a greenhouse in January to February, transplanted in late March to mid-April, and harvested from late May to July. For autumn cultivation, seeds are sown and seedlings raised from mid-June to early July, transplanted from early to mid-August to mid-September, and harvested from October to December. In protected structures, cultivation generally involves sowing and raising seedlings from early to mid-July to early August, transplanting into improved cold frames or solar greenhouses from September to November, and harvesting from January to March.

2. Sowing and management

Celery is relatively difficult to germinate, so a seedling bed should be chosen on higher ground with convenient drainage and irrigation and loose, fertile sandy loam soil. Apply sufficient decomposed base fertilizer, and apply more barnyard manure to make the soil loose. To achieve fast, complete and uniform germination, seeds can be soaked and sprouted 7 to 8 days before sowing. For sowing in mid to late June, first soak the seeds in cool water at 12-14°C for 12-24 hours, rinse them clean, let them dry in a cool, ventilated place for a while, and once the seed surface is dry, wrap them in a wet towel and place them in a cool place (15-20°C) for light-exposed sprouting, washing them once a day with cold water. Once the seeds show sprouts, they can be sown. The wet sowing method is mostly used, that is, water the base first, and after the water infiltrates, mix the seeds with sand and broadcast them. Build a shade shed over the seedling bed to lower the temperature, protect from the sun and prevent heavy rain.

After sowing, cover with soil thinly and evenly, and keep the seedling bed moist. Generally, a small amount of water can be applied every 1 to 2 days in the morning and evening until the seedlings emerge completely. For spring and autumn sowing, the shade shed may be omitted, but small amounts of water should be applied frequently to help germination. To reduce weed damage, after sowing and before emergence, 25% wettable nitrofen 0.75-1 kg/mu can be mixed with 80-100 kg of water and sprayed evenly on the bed surface. When the seedlings have 2 leaves, thin them once to a spacing of 1 cm. When the seedlings have 3 to 4 leaves, thin them once more to a spacing of 8-10 cm square. After the seedlings are established, carry out intertillage to promote root development and leaf differentiation, and apply urea at 10 kg/mu as a top dressing, and remove all coverings to help harden the seedlings. When the seedlings reach 5 to 7 leaves and a height of 15-18 cm, they can be transplanted. Pay attention to controlling aphids, late blight and other damage.

Growing and managing celery is relatively simple, but careful care is needed to achieve higher yields.