Chinese Celery (Leaf Celery)

Yellow Improved Chinese Celery is a vibrant, flavorful variety of celery that boasts bright yellow stems and smaller, thinner stalks compared to traditional green celery. The plant has a stronger, more pronounced, and slightly peppery flavor that often is applied like an herb rather than a vegetable for a wide range of culinary applications. This variety offers exceptional flavor and a strong aroma when stir-fried in garlic and is a delicious addition to your favorite meats, soups, and steamed fish dishes. Both stalk and leaves are edible.  Rich in vitamins A, C, and K, along with essential minerals like potassium and calcium, Yellow Improved Chinese Celery provides a nutritious boost to any meal.

Also Known As: Nan Ling Celery, Leaf Celery, Kintsai, Qin Cai (芹菜), Kinchay, Wild Celery, Khuen Chai, Par Cel, Nanakusa, Cantonese Celery, Chinese Yellow Celery, Asian Yellow Celery.

Plant Name:	Celery, Yellow Chinese Improved
Latin Name:	Apium graveolens
Days to Germinate:	14-21
Days to Harvest:	105
Plant Height:	12 -18 Inches
Spread:	6 - 12 Inches
Growth Habit:	Upright
USDA Zones:	3-11
Lifespan:	Biennial
Brand:	TomorrowSeeds
Sunlight:	Full Sun, Partial Shade
Pollination:	Heirloom, Open-Pollinated
GMO:	No
Fungicide-Treated Seeds*:	No
Seeds Packed For**:	2025

*Fungicide-treated seeds protect the seedlings from diseases until they are up and growing. Do not eat treated seeds.
**Seeds are freshly packed for the growing season of the year listed. Seeds are still viable beyond pack date. Store in a cool and dry location such as the refrigerator or basement to best preserve germination rates.

Planting Instructions:

Soil Preparation:

Choose an area with heavy, well-draining soil that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight each day. Remove weeds, large rocks, and litter from the planting area. Leave small weeds and dead grass, they will enrich the soil when turned under. Spade or till the soil 8-12 inches deep. Loosening the soil will help the plant establish strong roots.

Plants grow best in soil with lots of organic matter. You may optionally add fertilizer or organic material such as compost, leaves, or rotted hay to mix into the soil at this point. For small gardens, scatter 2-3 tablespoons of fertilizer evenly and work into the top 2-3 inches of soil for each hill or 2 foot by 2 foot planting area. For larger gardens, scatter 2-3 pounds of a complete fertilizer for each 100 square feet of planting area. Work fertilizer or organic material into the soil and leave the surface smooth.

Form rows of soil beds 4-6 inches high and at least 2 feet apart. This formation of ridges will help with drainage.

Celery can also be planted in a grid formation to better shade celery plants and promote blanching.

Planting:

Celery grows best in cool temperatures, with an ideal growing range between 55-75F. Temperature above 80F can cause celery to bolt.

Starting Indoors: For an earlier harvest, you may optionally start planting indoors in containers 8-10 weeks before the last expected frost date in Spring. Harden off then transplant seedlings outdoors in a sunny location when the soil temperature is above 50F. To transplant seedlings, prepare a transplant hole outdoors in a sunny location. Remove the plants carefully from the pots or flats and set them in the holes, burying roots in the ground. Pack the soil loosely around the plant and leave a slightly sunken area around each plant to hold water. Water the plants after transplanting.

Directly Sowing: If directly sowing outdoors, plant in spring when the soil warms to at least 50F. For fall crops, direct sow seeds outdoors 10-12 weeks before the first frost. To plant, make holes 1/4 inch deep and spaced 8 inches apart down the rows of raised beds. Plant 2-3 seeds per hole. If choosing to thin to the strongest plant, determine the strongest and healthiest plant, then remove all other plants, narrowing to a single plant per hole. Cover seeds thinly with soil and water after planting.

Planting Depth:	1/4 inch
Within-Row Spacing:	8 inches
Between-Row Spacing:	2 feet

Care During the Season:

Watering: Water the plants deeply, soaking the soil to a depth of 6-8 inches, once a week. If there is no rainfall, water 2 times a week. Sandy soils may need to be watered more often than heavy clay soils.

Weeding: Keeping plants weed-free improves production. If plowing or hoeing, do not dig deeper than 1 inch to prevent from cutting the feeder roots.

Fertilizing: Once seedlings are established, 3-4 weeks after planting, you may optionally apply a light dressing of fertilizer, without letting the fertilizer touch the plants. Water plants after fertilizing.

Insecticides: Insecticides may be used to protect plants. Bt-based insecticides and sulfur are organic options that can be used for prevention. Sulfur also has fungicidal properties and helps in controlling many diseases. Before using a pesticide, read the label and follow cautions, warnings and directions.

Diseases: If spots or mold appear, treat plants with an approved fungicide. Neem oil, sulfur, and other fungicides may be used. When using fungicides always follow label directions.

Harvesting:

Harvest Celery stalks as needed by removing outer stalks when they are 12" or more in length, about 85-120 days after planting. To harvest, cut the entire plant at the base just above the soil line, or you can cut individual stalks as needed, starting from the outermost ones. For the best flavor, it's recommended to harvest before the plant starts flowering, as this can cause the stalks to become bitter and tough. If you're growing celery as a perennial, you can also harvest in stages over time, allowing the inner stalks to continue developing.