How to Grow Celery 'Tall Utah'

Celery 'Tall Utah'

Apium graveolens var. dulce

vegetable

Tall Utah is a popular heirloom celery variety prized for its tall, slender stalks and mild, crisp flavor. This open-pollinated cultivar produces upright bunches of pale green to white blanched stalks that are tender and excellent for fresh eating and cooking. It's a cool-season crop that requires consistent moisture and patience, typically taking 100-130 days to mature.

Growing Conditions

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

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Water: Consistently moist soil (1-2 inches weekly); celery is water-demanding and cannot tolerate drought; drip irrigation is ideal to maintain even moisture

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Spacing: 6-12 inches

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Days to maturity: 100-130

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Planting depth: Seeds: 1/8 inch deep (or surface sown); transplants: depth of root ball

Soil

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

pH: 6.0-7.0

Amendments:

compost aged manure peat moss perlite for drainage

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Zones 3-8; prefers cooler climates and can be grown spring through fall in most regions

2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b

Growth Stages

Seedling

3-4 weeks

Tiny seed germinates slowly (2-3 weeks); cotyledons emerge with feathery true leaves following

Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged; provide 12-14 hours of light daily under grow lights if starting indoors; thin to strongest seedling per cell

Transplant/Establishment

4-6 weeks

Young plants develop several true leaves and establish a root system; moved to larger containers or garden beds

Harden off transplants gradually over 7-10 days; plant out when soil is warm (50-60°F minimum); maintain consistent moisture; fertilize every 2-3 weeks with balanced fertilizer

Vegetative Growth

6-8 weeks

Plants form compact bunches with multiple upright stalks; foliage becomes denser and deeper green

Keep evenly moist; mulch around plants to conserve moisture; apply 1-2 inches compost as side-dressing monthly; monitor for pests; thin crowded plants if necessary

Blanching/Maturation

4-6 weeks

Stalks thicken and elongate; outer stalks may be bundled and wrapped with cardboard, burlap, or soil to encourage blanching (pale, tender inner stalks)

Begin blanching when plants are 6-8 inches tall by wrapping bunches loosely with cardboard, paper, or soil 4-6 weeks before harvest; maintain consistent water and fertility

Harvest Ready

Ready when mature

Stalks reach full height (18-24 inches) and desired thickness (1-1.5 inches at base); blanched varieties appear pale and creamy white

Harvest at peak crispness in cool weather (morning is best); cut entire bunch at soil level or harvest outer stalks individually for continued production

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

tomato bean cabbage broccoli leek onion carrot parsley

Avoid planting near:

corn fennel parsnip parsley (competitive), brassicas (optional)

Common Pests

Handpick affected leaves; use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis); encourage beneficial parasitic wasps; remove plant debris
Row covers early in season; crop rotation (3+ years); reflective mulches; avoid injuring roots during cultivation
Use virus-free seeds/transplants; control aphids with insecticidal soap or neem oil; remove infected plants immediately; maintain good sanitation
Strong water spray to dislodge; insecticidal soap; neem oil; encourage natural predators (ladybugs, lacewings)
Consistent moisture (stress invites mites); water misting; insecticidal soap; neem oil; increase humidity
and
Hand-pick at dawn/dusk; beer traps; copper barriers; diatomaceous earth; encourage ground beetles and toads

Uses

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Fresh eating and cooking

Culinary

Tall Utah's crisp, tender stalks are excellent raw in salads, with dips, or as a snack. Cooked stalks soften beautifully in soups, stews, stir-fries, and braises, contributing a delicate celery flavor to mirepoix bases. [source]

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Juicing and smoothies

Culinary

Fresh celery juice is prized for its mineral content and subtle sweet-salty flavor. Often combined with apple, cucumber, and ginger for cleansing juices and green smoothies. [source]

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Anti-inflammatory and digestive support

Medicinal

Celery contains compounds like 3-n-butylphthalide (3nB) and luteolin linked to anti-inflammatory and antihypertensive properties. Traditionally used in herbal medicine to support digestion and reduce bloating. [source]

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Natural cleaning and deodorizing

Household

Celery leaves and seeds can be simmered to freshen kitchen air and remove odors naturally. The plant's volatile compounds have mild antimicrobial properties. [source]

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Pollinator and beneficial insect support

Wildlife

If celery bolts and flowers, the small, delicate white flowers attract bees, hoverflies, and parasitic wasps that help control garden pests. [source]

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

Harvest Tips

Harvest when stalks are 18-24 inches tall and 1-1.5 inches thick at the base (100-130 days from transplant). For best flavor and crispness, harvest in early morning after dew dries. Cut the entire bunch at soil level with a sharp knife, or harvest outer stalks selectively to allow inner stalks to continue developing. Tall Utah can produce for several weeks if outer stalks are harvested regularly. Store in a plastic bag in the refrigerator; celery keeps 2-3 weeks when properly chilled.

Fun Facts

🌱 Tall Utah is an heirloom variety developed in Utah in the early 1900s and remains one of the most widely grown commercial celery cultivars today.
🌱 Celery seeds are incredibly tiny—about 1,500 seeds per gram—and historically were used as a spice and in traditional medicine before the vegetable became popular in modern cuisine.
🌱 Celery is about 95% water, making it an excellent hydrating vegetable, but this also means it requires consistent, generous watering throughout the growing season to develop crisp stalks.

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