This is a brilliant weekend project and quite literally foolproof. You don't need to buy seeds for trying this, all you need is uncut celery stalks that are sold with the bottom end still attached. When you cut them for cooking keep the base. You can try it with one first or do it like I do and buy four of them to get your own little never ending production going for the coming summer. This is how to regrow celery so that it'll grow happily in your garden or on your windowsill.
For the sake of explaining I did one thing different that I usually do. Instead of placing all of the celery bottoms in a shallow bowl filled with water at once I did it one celery at a time with a one week gap in between. On the picture below you see how it will look like over the course of one month. I used to do this a lot during my studies because it not only saved me some pennies but it also makes great plants for the windowsill and small balconies.
I have a lot of planting pots because I have a vegetable patch but you can make due with anything ranging from old yogurt cups to tomato cans or even protein powder containers. Just make sure to poke holes into the bottom of the container and place it on a saucer. The reason for needing the holes in the bottom is drainage. You don't want water to collect in the bottom because it will make the roots rot.
If you are an absolute beginner you will profit from a little trick that is very inexpensive. Collect some tiny stones, gravel or get some mulch and put a small layer in the bottom of the container, then add a layer of compost on top of it. Doing this just enhances the draining of excess water and helps the roots breathe.
Now all you need to do is create a hole slightly larger than your celery, place it into the soil and firmly pat the soil around it down. You want the roots firmly covered by the soil. Find a warm and sunny spot in the house and keep the soil moist, but not too wet and watch your crop grow. In a couple of months it will be ready for harvest. I will plant these into my vegetable patch as soon as the weather warms up. Hopefully my little guide how to regrow celery can also help you save some money and at the same time do something fun.
I would love to hear how it goes for you so send me some pictures or leave comments and remember to subscribe to get updates directly to your email.
VegMom
I started this with my kids. They love watching it grow. Can you do more vegetable diy posts?
Gloria
I got a few planned. =)
VegGreg
Can you keep them in water all the time? I live in a small apartment and don't want to buy soil just for that.
Love your blog btw!
Greg
Gloria
Hey Greg. I am glad you like my blog. It won't grow forever in just water it needs nutrients and soil provides that. You can just take a small amount of soil from a park or forest and fill a small empty plastic package that you buy vegetables in at supermarkets. Mushrooms or berries usually come in quite sturdy ones. Or you can use an empty can and poke some holes into the bottom of it. In any case there is no need to buy anything. You can upcycle empty and well washed food containers and get soil for free. Hope this helps.