Celery – Golden Self Blanching

Description

Golden Self Blanching Celery (a.k.a. Golden Self-Blanche, American or Fall Dwarf Strain, Burpee’s Golden Self Blanching, Gigante Dorato)

200 Seeds per pack

Days to Maturity: 85–95 Days

Sun Requirements: Full sun (6–8 hours); tolerates light shade in hot weather to prevent wilting.

Botanical Name: Apium graveolens

A beloved heirloom introduced in 1883 by Johnson & Stokes, Golden Self Blanching has been a dependable garden staple for generations. Its thick, pale yellow-green stalks naturally turn golden as they mature—no need for covering or banking. The plants are compact and stocky, reaching 24–30″ tall, with sturdy, full-hearted stalks that grow 6–12″ long on average.

The flavor is mild, crisp, and refreshing—ideal for fresh eating, soups, or cooked dishes. This variety is also known for its excellent keeping quality, making it a great choice for the kitchen. Golden Self Blanching celery also offers a nutritional boost, with key vitamins and minerals like vitamin K, vitamin C, folate, and potassium.

Vigorous and dependable, Golden Self Blanching remains a standout variety for its ease of growing, classic taste, and natural richness, making it an excellent choice for gardeners of all kinds!

Planting Instructions for Golden Self Blanching Celery Seeds

When to Plant: Start Golden Self Blanching celery seeds indoors 10–12 weeks before your last expected spring frost. For fall crops, sow 12–15 weeks before your first fall frost. Celery needs a long, cool growing season and is best started indoors for reliable results. While it is possible to direct sow in mild climates with long seasons, uneven germination and slow early growth often make transplants the better choice. Transplant outdoors when nights consistently stay above 50°F. Avoid cold snaps, which can trigger bolting.

Where to Plant: Choose a site with full sun (6–8 hours daily), though light afternoon shade is helpful in hot climates. Golden Self Blanching celery prefers fertile, well-drained soil that holds moisture, with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Raised beds or amended garden soil with compost are ideal.

How to Sow Seeds: Soak seeds overnight to improve germination. Press them gently into moist seed-starting mix—do not cover, as they need light to sprout. Use a heat mat if possible. Germination takes 1–3 weeks. Thin seedlings and transplant when they have 3–4 true leaves. Harden off transplants by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7–10 days before planting them in the garden.

Growing: Transplant 8–10″ apart in rows spaced 18–24″ apart, or plant in tight blocks to promote self-blanching. Keep soil evenly moist with 1–2″ of water weekly. Mulch to retain moisture and regulate temperature. Fertilize with nitrogen-rich compost or a phosphorus-rich fertilizer such as 5-10-10 at transplanting and again after 4–6 weeks. Tie stalks loosely if they begin to sprawl. Golden Self Blanching produces naturally pale yellow-green stalks that turn golden with maturity, eliminating the need for additional blanching when grown in close blocks.

Care Tips: Weed gently—celery has shallow roots. Watch for pests such as aphids, slugs, and armyworms, and diseases like bacterial blight or soft rot. Use row covers early and rotate planting locations annually to reduce disease risk.

Harvesting: Harvest outer stalks when they reach about 8″ tall, or cut the entire plant at the base once it reaches 18–24″ tall and is compact. For best flavor and texture, harvest before yellowing or frost. Golden Self Blanching celery is ready 85–95 days from sowing.

Storage: Wrap fresh heads in foil and refrigerate for several weeks. For longer storage, chop and blanch celery before freezing, or dehydrate leaves and stalks for soups and seasonings. Use fresh celery when texture is most important.

Seed Saving: Golden Self Blanching celery is a biennial and sets seed in its second year. To save seed, overwinter healthy roots, replant them in spring, and allow them to flower and dry down. Isolate from celeriac or wild celery to avoid cross-pollination. Store dried seeds in a cool, dry place. For best results, use seed-saving envelopes or a glass jar labeled with the variety and harvest date.

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