Summer Cash

Family: Apiaceae Vegetable

Crisp and cool to the senses, Summer Cash celery forms tender, juicy stalks with a clean, bright snap and a mild, sweet-green flavor that stays pleasantly refined.

The plants develop an upright, compact habit with succulent ribs that are especially suited to fresh use—ideal for gardeners who want a leafy-green that feels garden-fresh from the first bite. Grow Summer Cash for a steady harvest window around 70 days, when the texture turns at its most satisfying: crisp, smooth, and richly aromatic.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 70 DaysHabit: Upright

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Mar 14th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 18th
Harvest Begins	Jun 27th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	70
Sun Requirements	Part Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Summer Cash celery earns its keep in the raw bowl: its juicy ribs stay crisp, delivering a cool aromatic snap rather than turning stringy or watery. Use it as the crunch backbone in chopped salads, then let lemon and dairy round off the mild sweetness without smothering the celery’s perfume.

Best Uses

raw snacking sticks with flaky salt and lemon
thin ribbons or batons in crunchy salads and coleslaw
cold soups and chilled vichyssoise-style blends
quick pickles where the ribs stay snappy

Flavor Profile

clean, mild sweet-green flavor high water content with a bright, juicy snap tender aromatic ribs with a subtle celery perfume crisp texture that resists wilting

Kitchen Pairings

lemon parmesan Greek yogurt or crème fraîche smoked fish chicken olive oil

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease commonly affects Apium graveolens var. dulce (summer celery), and how can I treat it?

A common problem is celery leaf spot (often linked to warm, humid conditions). Remove infected leaves, improve airflow by spacing plants, and water at the soil line rather than over the foliage. If spots spread, apply a labeled fungicide that targets leaf spot on celery in your area and repeat according to the label’s interval.

How often should I water summer celery during the main growing phase (around mid-season)?

Keep the root zone consistently moist for steady leaf growth—celery (Apium graveolens var. dulce) typically needs about 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week, split into a few irrigations. Water more frequently in hot spells so the soil doesn’t dry out, because drought stress can cause bitter, uneven texture in leaf and stalk development.

How do I tell when Summer Cash celery is ready to harvest?

Harvest when the stalks are fully sized and feel firm, typically around 70 days from sowing/transplanting as your seed packet indicates. For a main harvest, cut outer stalks first at the base, or harvest whole plants when the clump is dense and uniform in size.