Tall Utah Celery
Apium graveolens 'Tall Utah'
vegetableTall Utah 52-70 is the standard green stalk celery, forming upright bunches of crisp, thick, stringless ribs with a deep flavor and good disease tolerance. It is a long-season, moisture-hungry crop that rewards steady care.
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Sun
full sun
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Water
Every 2 days
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Harvest
~100 days
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Difficulty
hard
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Lifecycle
biennial
Leaves year 1, flowers year 2
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Spacing
6-8 in. apart
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Planting Depth
Seed 1/8 in. deep (needs light)
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Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Growing Details
Soil Type
Rich, moist, water-retentive
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3 – 10
Grown as an annual. This range is its winter hardiness, but you can grow it for a single season in any zone.
When to Fertilize
Regular feeding through the season
Fertilizer
Balanced, nitrogen-rich; heavy feeder
🌱 Growing Guide
Start seed indoors 10 to 12 weeks before transplanting, pressing it on the surface since light aids germination, and keep seedlings cool and bright. Celery demands constantly moist, rich soil and never tolerates drying out, which makes stalks stringy and bitter. Transplant after frost once nights stay reliably above 55F, since young celery exposed to a prolonged cold spell below about 55F for 10 days or more can be vernalized and bolt (run to seed) prematurely; feed regularly, and mulch heavily; blanch the stalks with collars or soil mounding for a few weeks before harvest if you want milder, paler ribs.
Planting Calendar
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Start seeds indoors
Feb 4
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Transplant outdoors
Apr 29
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Projected first harvest
Aug 7
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Bush Bean: Fixes nitrogen that this heavy feeder appreciates
- Cabbage: Shares the rich, moist bed while aromatic foliage helps confuse pests
- Leek: A companionable allium whose scent helps deter some pests
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts. Tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Encourage ladybugs and lacewings and rinse colonies off with water
Float row cover over plants and remove and destroy mined leaves promptly
Keep mulch from packing against the stalks and set traps in the damp crowns
🌾 Harvest & storage
Cut whole bunches at the base once stalks are firm and 8 inches or more, or pick outer ribs as needed and leave the plant to keep producing. Harvest in the cool of the morning; stalks keep one to two weeks refrigerated, wrapped to hold moisture.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
Very low in calories and high in water, celery provides vitamin K, folate, potassium, and useful dietary fiber.
For educational and informational purposes only. HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.