HeirloomContainer OK

Celery Microgreens

Apium graveolens

Medium-large, relatively smooth round roots with buff-colored skin. Interiors are white and flavorful and resist pithiness and hollow heart. Also available with NOP-compliant pelleting.

Harvest

100d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun

☀️

Zones

3–6

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

1-3 feet

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Harvest

Start Indoors

Harvest

Showing dates for Celery Microgreens in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 microgreen →

Zone Map

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Celery Microgreens · Zones 3–6

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Moderate

SpacingDense planting, 2-3 seeds per square inch

SoilFine soilless growing medium or seed starting mix

pH6.0-7.0

WaterLight misting 2-3 times daily, maintain consistent moisture

SeasonWarm season annual

FlavorIntense celery flavor, aromatic, slightly bitter with fresh herbal notes

ColorMedium to dark green with serrated edges

Size1-3 inches tall with small compound leaves

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 1	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 2	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 11	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 12	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 13	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 3	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 4	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 5	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 6	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 7	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 8	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 9	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 10	January – December	—	—	January – December

Complete Growing Guide

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Soil: High Organic Matter. Soil pH: Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.. Spacing: Less than 12 inches. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Seed.

Harvesting

The fruits are black when ripened. The tiny seeds are ovoid-shaped.

Color: Black. Type: Schizocarp. Length: < 1 inch. Width: < 1 inch.

Harvest time: Fall

Edibility: Celery Seed comes from Wild Celery. The bitter-tasting leaves are inedible.

Storage & Preservation

Fresh celery microgreens are highly perishable and best used within 3-5 days of harvest. Store them unwashed in a breathable container lined with paper towels in the refrigerator at 35-38°F. Avoid plastic bags, which trap moisture and accelerate decay.

For preservation, dehydration works exceptionally well with celery microgreens due to their intense flavor concentration. Use a dehydrator at 95°F for 8-12 hours until crispy, then store in airtight containers for up to 6 months. The dried microgreens make excellent seasoning blends and soup garnishes.

Freezing is less ideal due to their delicate structure, but you can freeze them in ice cubes with water or olive oil for later use in cooked dishes. They'll lose their crisp texture but retain most of their flavor compounds for up to 3 months.

History & Origin

Origin: Macaronesia to North Africa, Europe to West Himalaya

Advantages

+Attracts: Bees, Butterflies
+Edible: Celery Seed comes from Wild Celery. The bitter-tasting leaves are inedible.

Companion Plants

In our zone 7 Georgia indoor and greenhouse setups, celery microgreens grow in trays rather than beds, so in-ground companion logic doesn't map directly — but spacing and airflow still matter when trays share a rack. Chives and parsley work well on adjacent shelves because they tolerate the same light misting cadence without creating a humidity spike that invites damping off. Fennel is the one to keep off your rack entirely: its volatile allelopathic compounds suppress germination in Apiaceae relatives, and celery is squarely in that family. Carrots present the same problem — they're close enough genetically that crowding the two in shared airspace tends to produce uneven, patchy germination in both trays.

Plant Together

Chives

Repels aphids and other soft-bodied insects that commonly attack celery

Tomatoes

Celery improves tomato flavor and growth while tomatoes provide natural pest protection

Lettuce

Similar growing conditions and spacing requirements, good companion for microgreen trays

Spinach

Compatible moisture and temperature needs, can be grown in adjacent trays

Parsley

Both are umbellifers with similar growing requirements and pest resistance

Cabbage

Celery repels cabbage worms and flea beetles that attack brassicas

Marigolds

Natural pest deterrent that protects against aphids and whiteflies

Dill

Attracts beneficial insects and has similar growing conditions

Keep Apart

Carrots

Both are susceptible to carrot fly and sharing space increases pest pressure

Corn

Creates too much shade and competes heavily for nutrients

Fennel

Inhibits growth of most plants including celery through allelopathic compounds

Nutrition Facts

Calories

69kcal(3%)

Protein

1.5g(3%)

Fiber

5.3g(19%)

Carbs

17.6g(6%)

Fat

0.1g(0%)

Vitamin C

54.1mg(60%)

Vitamin A

5mcg(1%)

Iron

1.61mg(9%)

Calcium

8mg(1%)

Potassium

304mg(6%)

Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #167782)

Pests & Disease Resistance

Resistance

Moderate resistance, can be sensitive to fungal issues in high humidity

Common Pests

Aphids, spider mites in dry conditions

Diseases

Damping off, leaf blight, septoria leaf spot in humid conditions

Troubleshooting Celery Microgreens

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Seedlings collapse at soil level, falling over within the first 5–10 days after germination

Likely Causes

Damping off (Pythium or Rhizoctonia spp.) — fungal pathogens that thrive in waterlogged growing medium
Overwatering or poor drainage in the tray, especially with a lid left on too long

What to Do

1.Remove any humidity dome as soon as the first shoots emerge — celery microgreens don't need it past day 3 or 4
2.Switch from misting to a very light, targeted spray and let the surface dry slightly between waterings
3.If most of the tray is affected, pull the whole flat and start fresh — damping off spreads fast and there's no recovering a tray that's half gone

Thin, pale, leggy seedlings stretching toward the light by day 7–10, stems too weak to stand upright

Likely Causes

Insufficient light — celery microgreens need 6+ hours of direct light or a grow light kept 2–3 inches above the canopy
Grow light mounted too high, prompting seedlings to reach instead of thickening up

What to Do

1.Move the tray to your brightest south-facing windowsill, or drop the grow light to within 2–3 inches of the canopy
2.Harvest earlier — leggy celery microgreens at 10–12 days are still usable; waiting longer just compounds the problem

Webbing visible between stems with tiny moving specks, seedlings look dry and stippled despite regular misting

Likely Causes

Spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) — common in dry indoor conditions, especially in heated rooms in winter
Low ambient humidity around the tray, which spider mites prefer over anything above 50% relative humidity

What to Do

1.Harvest immediately if the tray is close to ready — mites move fast and the greens are still edible at that stage
2.Raise ambient humidity with a small humidifier near your growing area, aiming for 50–60% RH
3.Between cycles, wipe down trays with a diluted neem solution and let them dry completely before reseeding

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do celery microgreens take to grow?▼

Celery microgreens typically take 14-21 days from sowing to harvest. Germination occurs within 3-5 days in temperatures of 65-75°F, and the microgreens are ready when they reach 1-2 inches tall with their first true serrated leaves visible.

Are celery microgreens good for beginners?▼

Celery microgreens are considered moderate difficulty and not ideal for complete beginners. They require precise moisture management, are sensitive to overwatering, and the tiny seeds can be challenging to sow evenly. Start with easier varieties like radish or sunflower microgreens first.

Can you grow celery microgreens without soil?▼

Yes, celery microgreens grow excellently in soilless mediums like coconut coir, vermiculite, or hydroponic mats. Many commercial growers prefer soilless methods as they reduce disease risk and make harvesting cleaner. Ensure whatever medium you use drains well while retaining moisture.

What do celery microgreens taste like?▼

Celery microgreens have an intensely concentrated celery flavor with fresh herbal notes and a slight bitter finish. They provide all the aromatic compounds of mature celery without the fibrous texture, making them perfect for garnishing and flavoring dishes where you want pure celery essence.

Why are my celery microgreens falling over and dying?▼

This is typically damping-off disease caused by overwatering and poor air circulation. Ensure you're bottom-watering rather than misting, maintain good airflow with a small fan, and avoid covering the trays once germination begins. Reduce watering frequency and check that your growing medium drains properly.

Can celery microgreens be regrown after cutting?▼

No, celery microgreens cannot regrow after cutting like some larger greens. They're harvested at the cotyledon to first true leaf stage, and cutting at this point removes the growing tip. For continuous harvests, practice succession planting by starting new trays every 7-10 days.