How to Grow Celery Pascal

Celery Pascal

Apium graveolens var. dulce

vegetable

Celery Pascal is a popular green celery variety known for its tall, crisp stalks and mild, sweet flavor. It's a cool-season crop that produces dense bunches of edible petioles (leaf stalks) ideal for fresh eating, cooking, and storage. This heirloom variety has been a garden staple since the early 1900s.

Growing Conditions

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Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily; afternoon shade in hot climates

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Water: Consistently moist soil; water deeply 1-2 inches per week; keep soil moisture even to prevent bitter, hollow stalks

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Spacing: 6-8 inches apart in rows 24-30 inches apart inches

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Days to maturity: 100-130 days from transplant

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Planting depth: Seeds ¼ inch deep; transplants at soil line

Soil

Type: Rich, well-draining loamy soil with high organic matter

pH: 6.0-7.0

Amendments:

Compost aged manure peat moss potassium fertilizer

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 3-9; prefers cool seasons

3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a

Growth Stages

Seedling

3-4 weeks

Tiny, delicate seedlings with 2-4 true leaves emerge slowly over 2-3 weeks

Keep soil consistently moist; provide bright light indoors; thin seedlings to prevent crowding; can be slow and temperamental

Vegetative Growth

6-8 weeks

Plant develops multiple leafy green stalks and a root system; foliage becomes fuller and taller

Transplant when 2-3 inches tall; maintain consistent moisture and rich soil; apply mulch to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature; fertilize every 3-4 weeks with nitrogen-rich fertilizer

Stalk Development

4-6 weeks

Individual stalks elongate and thicken; plant reaches 12-18 inches in height with densely packed bunches

Blanch for sweeter, paler stalks by mounding soil or wrapping stalks with paper; maintain even watering to prevent stringiness and splitting; continue fertilizing

Maturity

2-3 weeks

Stalks are thick, crisp, and full-sized (12-18 inches tall); plant forms a compact, ready-to-harvest bundle

Stop fertilizing 2-3 weeks before harvest; reduce watering slightly but keep soil moist; monitor for bolting in warm weather

Harvest

Variable, 4-6 weeks of harvests

Stalks are firm, crisp, and at peak flavor; plant shows no signs of bolting or flowering

Begin harvesting outer stalks from the base; harvest in the morning for maximum crispness; can continue harvesting for 4-6 weeks

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Tomato Lettuce Cabbage Leek Onion Parsley Carrot Nasturtium

Avoid planting near:

Corn Dill Fennel Parsnip Celery root

Common Pests

Handpick beetles and eggs; use insecticidal soap; row covers for young plants
Strong water spray; insecticidal soap; neem oil; introduce beneficial insects like ladybugs
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt); handpicking; row covers; maintain garden sanitation
Increase humidity; neem oil; miticide if severe; strong water spray
and
Handpicking; copper tape barriers; diatomaceous earth; beer traps

Uses

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Fresh eating and cooking

Culinary

Pascal celery is excellent raw in salads, with dips, or as a crudité. It's also commonly used in soups, stews, stocks, and as a base vegetable in mirepoix and other cooking foundations. [source]

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Juicing and beverages

Culinary

Fresh celery juice is popular in wellness drinks and green juices for its hydrating properties and mineral content. The stalks can be juiced alone or blended with other vegetables and fruits. [source]

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Digestive and anti-inflammatory support

Medicinal

Celery contains compounds like 3-n-butylphthalide (3nB) and luteolin that may support heart health and reduce inflammation. Traditionally used to aid digestion and regulate blood pressure. [source]

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Stock and broth preparation

Household

Celery is a fundamental aromatic in vegetable, chicken, and beef stocks. The leaves and trimmings are especially valued for flavoring broths and can be dried for long-term storage. [source]

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Pollinator support

Wildlife

If celery is left unharvested to bolt and flower, it produces small yellow flower clusters that attract beneficial insects like bees and parasitic wasps. The seeds also feed birds. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Begin harvesting outer stalks 100-130 days after transplanting when they reach 8-10 inches tall; cut stalks at the base with a knife; harvest in cool morning hours for maximum crispness and water content. Plants can be harvested continuously for 4-6 weeks by removing outer stalks first. For whole-plant harvest, cut the entire bunch at soil level. Store harvested celery in plastic bags in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 weeks.

Fun Facts

🌱 Celery Pascal is an heirloom variety developed in France and introduced to North America in the late 1800s; the name 'Pascal' is believed to come from its French origins or a seed grower named Pascal.
🌱 Celery requires a long, cool growing season and actually develops sweeter flavor after exposure to cool temperatures (around 50°F), a process called vernalization.
🌱 The 'blanching' technique of covering celery stalks was developed in 19th-century Europe to create pale, tender, less bitter stalks—Pascal celery is naturally greener and hardier than blanched varieties like Golden Yellow.

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