Celery and Celeriac Varieties

Introduction

​Celery, cutting celery, and celeriac all share the scientific name, Apium graveolens, meaning they are the same species. When most people think of celery, they think of the thicker, rib-containing stalk. Celery also grows thinner stalks around the outside of the plant and lots of leaves, both of which are usually trimmed for sale in grocery stores. Celery has a reputation for being difficult to grow; however, newer hybrid varieties do well even under warm, dry conditions. Please see my earlier post on how to grow celery if you want more information on growing celery in the garden.

​Alternatively, you can grow cutting celery, also known as seasoning celery, which has very skinny ribs with lots of leaves. These are easier to grow than traditional celery and are used dry or fresh to season soups and stews. Celeriac, although genetically the same as regular celery, is not eaten for its ribs or leaves (they can be strongly flavored), but forms a large root that has a mild celery flavor. The root can be puréed, like mashed potatoes, roasted, or used in soups. Celeriac is also a great option as a replacement for potatoes or as a blend, as it has roughly half the carbohydrates and calories that potatoes have.

Below I have listed some of the more common varieties of celery and celeriac, including whether they are open-pollinated or hybrid, days to maturity, any disease resistance, and any other notes I think may be of interest.

Celery Varieties

Variety	OP or F1	Days to Maturity	Disease Resistance	Notes
Afina	OP	60		Cutting celery; more hardy and easier to grow than traditional celery
Amsterdam Seasoning	OP	80-115		A cutting celery that does not form large stalks but looks similar to flat-leaf parsley; cut and come again type; used to flavor soups, stews, or casseroles; often dried
Chinese Pink	OP	60-80		Pink stalks; a cutting celery that is easier to grow and earlier than typical celery; crunchy, salty, and flavorful
Chinese White	OP	70-120		White stalks; strong flavor; long, slender stalks; easy to grow and heat-tolerant
Conquistador	OP	80		Adaptable and does well under heat and moisture stress
Cutting Celery	OP	80-85		Does not form large stalks but easier to grow; used to flavor soups and stews
D Elne	OP	85-100		French variety; short; reliable; crisp and sweet
Giant Red	OP	90-120		Strongly flavored; can be tough and stringy; cold-hardy; reliable
Golden Boy	OP	80-90		Yellow stalks; mild, sweet flavor
Golden Pascal	OP	101		French heirloom; crisp and nutty
Golden Self Blanching	OP	105		Good flavor and texture
Hadrian	F1	80		Good bolt resistance; tall, classic celery
Kelvin	F1	80		Does well under both heat and moisture stress; the only variety I now grow
Merengo	F1	80	High resistance to Fusarium Yellows	Good flavor and texture; similar to Calypso
Redventure	OP	84		Cross of Giant Red and Ventura ; less strongly flavored and more tender than Giant Red
Pink Plume	OP	80-100		Pink stalks; crisp, nutty, sweet, fennel-like flavor
Tall Utah or Utah Tall	OP	70-100		Stringless, 12-inch stalks; light-flavored
Tall Utah 52/70R Improved or Utah Tall 52/70R Improved	OP	90-120	Disease resistant	Thick, stringless stalks; bolt-resistant;
Tango	OP	80-90	Fusarium resistant	Adaptable, does well with heat/drought and excess moisture; best open-pollinated variety I have tried; in milder climates can overwinter; tender and nearly stringless; self-blanching
Ventura	OP	80	Somewhat tolerant to fusarium; susceptible to boron deficiency	Adaptable

 

Celeriac Varieties

Variety	OP or F1	Days to Maturity	Disease Resistance	Notes
Afina	OP	60		Cutting celery; more hardy and easier to grow than traditional celery
Amsterdam Seasoning	OP	80-115		A cutting celery that does not form large stalks but looks similar to flat-leaf parsley; cut and come again type; used to flavor soups, stews, or casseroles; often dried
Chinese Pink	OP	60-80		Pink stalks; a cutting celery that is easier to grow and earlier than typical celery; crunchy, salty, and flavorful
Chinese White	OP	70-120		White stalks; strong flavor; long, slender stalks; easy to grow and heat-tolerant
Conquistador	OP	80		Adaptable and does well under heat and moisture stress
Cutting Celery	OP	80-85		Does not form large stalks but easier to grow; used to flavor soups and stews
D Elne	OP	85-100		French variety; short; reliable; crisp and sweet
Giant Red	OP	90-120		Strongly flavored; can be tough and stringy; cold-hardy; reliable
Golden Boy	OP	80-90		Yellow stalks; mild, sweet flavor
Golden Pascal	OP	101		French heirloom; crisp and nutty
Golden Self Blanching	OP	105		Good flavor and texture
Hadrian	F1	80		Good bolt resistance; tall, classic celery
Kelvin	F1	80		Does well under both heat and moisture stress; the only variety I now grow
Merengo	F1	80	High resistance to Fusarium Yellows	Good flavor and texture; similar to Calypso
Redventure	OP	84		Cross of Giant Red and Ventura ; less strongly flavored and more tender than Giant Red
Pink Plume	OP	80-100		Pink stalks; crisp, nutty, sweet, fennel-like flavor
Tall Utah or Utah Tall	OP	70-100		Stringless, 12-inch stalks; light-flavored
Tall Utah 52/70R Improved or Utah Tall 52/70R Improved	OP	90-120	Disease resistant	Thick, stringless stalks; bolt-resistant;
Tango	OP	80-90	Fusarium resistant	Adaptable, does well with heat/drought and excess moisture; best open-pollinated variety I have tried; in milder climates can overwinter; tender and nearly stringless; self-blanching
Ventura	OP	80	Somewhat tolerant to fusarium; susceptible to boron deficiency	Adaptable

 

References and Resources

1. Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Celery Seeds. https://www.rareseeds.com/store/plants-seeds/vegetable-seeds/celery-celeriac-seeds
2. Fedco Seeds. Celery. https://fedcoseeds.com/vegetables/celery
3. Harris Seeds. Celery Seeds. https://www.harrisseeds.com/collections/celery
4. High Mowing Organic Seeds. Organic Non-GMO Celery Seed. https://www.highmowingseeds.com/vegetables/celery.html
5. Johnny’s Selected Seeds. Celery and Celeriac https://www.johnnyseeds.com/vegetables/celery-and-celeriac/
6. MIgardener. Celery. https://migardener.com/collections/celery
7. Pinetree Garden Seeds. Celery Seeds. https://www.superseeds.com/collections/celery-seeds
8. Rohrer Seeds. Celery Seeds. https://rohrerseeds.com/collections/celery-1
9. Seed Savers Exchange. Celeriac. https://shop.seedsavers.org/vegetables/celeriac
10. Seed Savers Exchange. Celery. https://shop.seedsavers.org/vegetables/celery
11. Territorial Seed Company. Shop Celeriac. https://territorialseed.com/collections/celeriac
12. Territorial Seed Company. Shop Celery. https://territorialseed.com/collections/celery