Photo: Rasbak 12:47, 10 June 2007 (UTC), CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Pruning guide · Herbaceous plant
Wild celery: when and how to prune
Apium graveolens
Wild celery is best pruned in March.
| Pruning months | March |
|---|---|
| Flowering | June–September |
| Native to Belgium | Yes |
Wild celery: when to prune it?
No real pruning. You harvest from July until the frosts and cut away the dry flower stems in March.
What else to prune in those months? March
Wild celery: how to prune it?
- When harvesting, cut the outer stalks at the base and leave the heart.
- In the second year, leave the flower stems until the seed is ripe, for the insects and for your own seed.
- Leave the dry stems over winter as shelter for insects and cut them away in March.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: March.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- If you only cut back in March, the old stems stand through the winter: insects overwinter in them and birds eat the seeds.
- As a native plant, it feeds more insects than a non-native species.
Caution: If you handle a lot of celery leaves and then work in the sun, wear gloves: in sensitive people the sap can irritate the skin in combination with sunlight.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Wild celery · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.