Varieties
| Variety | Latin Name |
|---|---|
| Pascal celery | Apium graveolens var. dulce |
| Golden celery | Apium graveolens var. dulce |
| Self-blanching celery | Apium graveolens var. dulce |
| Leaf celery | Apium graveolens var. secalinum |
| Celeriac | Apium graveolens var. rapaceum |
Celery
Apium graveolens var. dulce
Celery is a cool-season hydroponic crop grown for crisp stalks and aromatic leaves, performing best in raft, ebb-and-flow, or drip systems with steady moisture.
Lookalikes
| Lookalike | Latin Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Parsley | Petroselinum crispum | Related carrot-family herb with divided leaves, but parsley has thinner stems and is usually grown for leaves rather than thick stalks. |
| Celeriac | Apium graveolens var. rapaceum | Same species grown for a swollen edible root crown rather than long crisp stalks. |
Edible Parts
| Part | Use | Description | Toxicity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stalks | Primary edible vegetable used fresh, cooked, juiced, or as an aromatic base. | Harvest outer stalks as needed or cut the full plant when stalks are crisp and well developed. | Generally edible in normal culinary amounts; celery is a common allergen for some people. |
| Leaves | Edible herb-like flavoring for stocks, soups, salads, and garnishes. | Leaves are more strongly flavored than stalks and can be harvested with tender stems. | Generally edible in normal culinary amounts. |
Propagation
| Part | Method | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Seed | Shallow sowing in starter plugs | Sow small seeds shallowly; germination is slow and benefits from consistent moisture and moderate temperatures. |
| Seedlings | Transplanting young starts | Transplant when roots hold the plug and several true leaves are present; avoid heat and drought stress. |
Growing Parameters
| Parameter | Range | Optimal | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.8 - 6.8 | 6.0 - 6.5 | pH |
| Electrical conductivity | 1.6 - 2.8 | 1.8 - 2.4 | mS/cm |
| Air temperature | 10 - 24 | 16 - 21 | °C |
| Water temperature | 14 - 22 | 16 - 20 | °C |
| Daily light integral | 12 - 22 | 14 - 18 | mol/m²/day |
Cultivation
| Aspect | Compatibility | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Deep water culture | High | Well suited to celery in raft systems with good aeration, cool water, and enough spacing. |
| Ebb and flow | High | Works well in plugs or media beds when moisture is consistent and roots re-oxygenate between cycles. |
| Drip irrigation with inert media | High | Reliable in coco, perlite, rockwool, or similar media; celery needs steady moisture. |
Identification
- Growth habit: Cool-season biennial usually grown as an annual for crisp leaf stalks, forming an upright rosette of petioles and leaves.
- Leaves: Glossy green divided leaves with a strong celery aroma, held at the tips of long ribbed petioles.
- Stalks: Thick, grooved, crisp petioles form the main edible stalks and may be green, pale green, yellow, or self-blanching depending on cultivar.