FULL SUN – CELERY, Tall Utah – Apium graveolens var. dulce, native to the Mediterranean and possibly parts of Asia and Africa, celery was largely unknown until the 1500s. The plant requires constantly moist, well-drained, rich soil to flourish. As the plant grows soil is usually ‘hilled up’ around the individual plants to blanch the stems. Tall Utah is an old variety introduced in the 1900s. It produces shorter (10 in.) stalks requiring less ‘hilling’. Tall Utah should be started indoors 10-12 weeks before the last frost date. Press the seed into the soil surface. Do not cover. Keep soil constantly moist. Transplant outdoors after the last frost. Soil should be deeply spaded before transplanting outdoors and tested for PH. Celeriac and celery must have neutral-slightly sweet soil (pH 7.0-7.5). Add lime to sweeten the soil. Rows should be 24-36 in. apart. Water generously when transplanting. When seedlings are 5 in. high, thin, leaving 6-8 in. between plants. Type Spacing Planting Depth Days to Germination Maturity Celery 6-8 in. Soil Surface. 14-21 120
