How to Grow Celery From the Base

growing celery from the base

The Spruce / Cori Sears

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 10 - 20 mins
  • Total Time: 2 - 3 days
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $0 to $10

Growing celery from the base of the stalks is a fun, easy garden project that produces fast results. There are two ways to do it: using water in a container or planting the base in potting soil. You might get more leaves than stalks when growing celery from its base, and your celery might not be as big as a store-bought bunch. However, you can use the celery leaves in cooking. Think of them as an herb: They taste like mild celery and work well in soups and stews. Some people even use them as a substitute for cilantro.

When growing your own celery from its base, consider starting with organic celery, as celery often ranks high for pesticide residue. Look for a bunch of celery that is firm with tightly packed stalks. The leaves should be green and appear fresh.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Knife
  • Trowel (optional)
  • Small non-porous container
  • Planting container with drainage holes (optional)

Materials

  • Bunch of celery
  • Fresh water
  • Potting soil (optional)
  • Slow-release fertilizer (optional)
  • A piece of screening, coffee filter, or paper towel (optional)

Instructions

materials for growing celery from the base

The Spruce / Cori Sears

  1. Cut the Bottom Off Your Celery Bunch

    Using a clean, sharp knife, cut off the bottom of your bunch of celery about two inches up from the base. Store the celery stalks until you're ready to eat them, and save the base.

    Tip

    The best way to store celery stalks is to wrap them in foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate them in the vegetable le bin. Foil-wrapped celery can remain fresher a bit longer than plastic-wrapped celery. To revive stalks that have wilted, cut 1/2 inch off both ends and put the stalks in an ice water bath for 30 minutes.

    cutting the base off of celery

    The Spruce / Cori Sears

  2. Place the Celery Base in a Small Container

    Take the base of your bunch of celery, and put it in a small container filled with about one inch of water. Place the container in a bright area out of direct sunlight.

    placing the base of celery into a container

    The Spruce / Cori Sears

  3. Watch the Celery Grow

    Your celery should start to sprout in a day or two. Change the water every few days, and make sure the dish doesn't dry out.

    celery growing in a container

    The Spruce / Cori Sears

  4. Plant the Celery in a Pot (Optional)

    If you want your sprouted celery base to grow larger, plant it in a pot. First, to prevent soil leakage, cover the drainage holes in the bottom of your pot with a piece of screening or a coffee filter.

    Then, fill your pot with potting soil until it is about two inches below the rim. Mix in a slow-release fertilizer, following the label directions. Press lightly on the soil to level it, and add water so it becomes damp but not soggy. Next, place the bottom of your sprouted celery base on top of the soil. Add about another inch of soil, so it completely surrounds the celery base. Finally, place the pot in full to partial sunlight, and water often enough to keep the soil damp. Watch your celery grow.

    placing the celery into a pot

    The Spruce / Cori Sears

Making Homemade Celery Salt

It's easy to make your own celery salt by using celery leaves and table salt, kosher salt, or sea salt. All you have to do is harvest celery leaves, wash them, dry them as much as possible with a clean dish towel or salad spinner, ​and dehydrate them. To dehydrate your celery leaves, either use a dehydrator or an oven.

If you are using an oven, preheat it to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and lay out your celery leaves in a single layer. Heat for five to ten minutes or until the leaves are crispy but not browned. Once they cool, crumble them and mix them with an equal amount of salt. Then store the mixture in an airtight jar.