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Apium graveolens

Wild Celery · Celery

Family ApiaceaeGenus Apium

Branching green stems carrying many small greenish-white umbels above glossy lobed leaves, on a muddy riverbank
The whole plantMPFCC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Annual, Herb, Herbaceous PerennialExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
biennialPlants of the World Online
Height
1.5-3 ft45-90 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
1-1.5 ft30-45 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Green, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Fall, SpringExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Austria, Azores, Baleares and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
3-6Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sunExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
High Organic MatterExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, MoistExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • One species gives celery, from its leaf stalks; celeriac, from its swollen hypocotyl; and leaf celery. The ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans used the wild plant as a condiment and medicine. Wikipedia: Apium graveolens

This source reports three treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around July 23, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on July 22, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    4 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 2 run on after germination.

about 6 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 77 days.

90% germination in 49–77 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Apium p. 20Public domain
Show the original text
Apium (Apiaceae). A. graveolens seeds DS 6 m germ. 100% in 6-14 d in 70D or 70L and 40(90% in 7-11 w)-70(4%). After 2 y DS seeds germ. 70D(47% in 1-4 w), and after 3 y DS seeds germ. 70D(3% in 10-18 d).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Apium p. 20. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 9, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 8, 2025.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 730 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 2 years from start to sowing. Then 28 days to germinate.

47% germination in 7–28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Apium p. 20Public domain
Show the original text
Apium (Apiaceae). A. graveolens seeds DS 6 m germ. 100% in 6-14 d in 70D or 70L and 40(90% in 7-11 w)-70(4%). After 2 y DS seeds germ. 70D(47% in 1-4 w), and after 3 y DS seeds germ. 70D(3% in 10-18 d).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Apium p. 20. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 19, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 18, 2024.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 1095 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 3 years from start to sowing. Then 18 days to germinate.

3% germination in 10–18 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Apium p. 20Public domain
Show the original text
Apium (Apiaceae). A. graveolens seeds DS 6 m germ. 100% in 6-14 d in 70D or 70L and 40(90% in 7-11 w)-70(4%). After 2 y DS seeds germ. 70D(47% in 1-4 w), and after 3 y DS seeds germ. 70D(3% in 10-18 d).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Apium p. 20. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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