How to Grow Celery in New Zealand

Needs consistently moist, rich soil to crop well. Leaf celery, grown for its flavoured stems and leaves, is much easier than self-blanching stalk celery in the warmer north.

When to plant celery in New Zealand

Timing is everything in New Zealand, where the warm north and the cooler south are weeks apart. Sow or plant in these months for your region:

Region	When to sow or plant
Northland	February, March, April, August, September, October
Auckland	February, March, April, August, September, October
Waikato & BoP	February, March, April, August, September, October
Wellington	February, March, April, August, September, October
Nelson & Marlborough	February, March, April, August, September, October
Canterbury	February, March, April, August, September, October
Otago & Southland	February, March, April, August, September, October
Central Otago	February, March, April, August, September, October

Best celery varieties for NZ

Tendercrisp / Green Self-Blanching — Standard stalk celery, needs rich soil and steady water for crisp stems. (Kings Seeds, Egmont Seeds)
Leaf Celery (Cutting Celery) — Tougher, intensely flavoured leaf type, far easier than stalk celery. (Kings Seeds, Egmont Seeds)

How to grow celery

Space plants about 25cm apart.
Sow seed around 0.5cm deep.
Position: part shade.
Ready to harvest in roughly 120 days.
Seeds germinate in about 14 days.

Companion planting

Grow celery near: Leek, Tomato, Beans.

Pests and problems

Watch for: Aphids, Slugs. See our NZ pest and disease guide for organic control.

For a calendar tuned to your exact region, see the New Zealand planting guides or the Celery plant page.

FAQ

When is the best time to plant celery in New Zealand?

In the warm north (Auckland, Northland) sow in February, March, April, August, September, October. Cooler regions plant a little later. Check the table above for your region.

Where can I buy celery seeds or plants in NZ?

Try Kings Seeds, Egmont Seeds.