leafy · transplant · advanced
Celery: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating celery a few times a week needs about 2 plants in ~3 sq ft, worth about $12 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$4.00/lb retail, an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 1 | ~2 sq ft | ~2 | ~$6 |
| 2 people | 1 | ~2 sq ft | ~2 | ~$6 |
| 4 people | 2 | ~3 sq ft | ~3 | ~$12 |
| 6 people | 3 | ~4 sq ft | ~5 | ~$18 |
Spacing
7" in row · 24" between rows
Sow depth
0.13"
Days to harvest
85 from transplant (110 from seed)
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Apr 17 – May 15 | Jun 7 – Jul 7 |
| Zone 4 | Apr 12 – May 10 | Jun 17 – Jul 17 |
| Zone 5 | Apr 2 – Apr 30 | Jun 27 – Jul 27 |
| Zone 6 | Mar 23 – Apr 20 | Jul 7 – Aug 6 |
| Zone 7 | Mar 8 – Apr 5 | Jul 17 – Aug 16 |
| Zone 8 | Feb 25 – Mar 25 | Aug 7 – Sep 6 |
| Zone 9 | Jan 23 – Feb 20 | Aug 27 – Sep 26 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 3 – Jan 31 | Sep 6 – Oct 6 |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
Stalks 8 to 12 inches from soil to first leaf and an inch wide. Cut whole plants, or take outer stalks as needed.
Yield
About 1.5 lbs per plant over ~1 productive weeks (~1.5 lb). Re-sow every ~21 days for a steady supply instead of one glut.
Watch for
Carrot rust fly · Parsleyworm · Aphids, the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.
Neighbors
Plays well with tomato, tomato, tomato, cabbage. Keep away from carrot, parsley.
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
14 kcal · 1.6 g fiber · 3.1 mg vitamin C · 260 mg potassium
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code, not just your zone, in about 60 seconds.
Celery planting questions
How many celery plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 1 plant per person. A family of 4 needs about 2 plants, which takes around 3 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does celery need?+
Space plants 7" apart in the row with 24" between rows. Sow 0.13" deep. Start indoors, transplant out.
When should I plant celery?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. It also has a fall window keyed to your first fall frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing celery worth it?+
At about $4.00/lb retail and ~1.5 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $12 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.