Tall Utah 52-70

Family: Apiaceae Vegetable

Crisp, cool-season stalks rise with a statuesque, upright poise—Tall Utah 52-70 delivers a clean, bright celery flavor with a satisfying snap and a tender, juicy texture that stays pleasantly mild.

Ideal for fresh bunches and classic celery-forward preparations, these sturdy stems hold their shape well and lend themselves beautifully to salads, slaws, and flavorful sauces. Grow it for a long, rewarding season: at about 85 days, you’ll harvest impressive height and a refined bite from every stalk.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 85 DaysHabit: Upright

Botanical illustration of Tall Utah 52-70

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

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Feb 14th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 11th
Harvest Begins	Jul 5th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	85
Sun Requirements	Part Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	7

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Tall Utah 52-70 is about that upright, water-sweet crunch—sturdy enough to stay snappy in slaw, yet mild enough to let lemon and black pepper really sing. Use the stalks early and cold for maximum snap, or cook them briefly so they perfume broth without turning mushy.

Best Uses

ice-cold crudités and dressed celery salad where crunch matters
shredded slaw that holds up to tangy vinaigrettes
mirepoix-style base for soups and stocks (stalk-forward, not overpowering)
cream sauces and braises where celery softens into a pleasant savory note

Flavor Profile

bright, clean celery flavor crisp snap with juicy tenderness mild sweetness with an herbal, stalky finish

Kitchen Pairings

lemon butter black pepper potato Parmesan chicken

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I prevent and treat early blight/leaf spot problems on celery (Apium graveolens var. dulce)?

Watch for small brown to black spots with yellowing edges on leaves and stems, especially during humid stretches. Remove and discard affected leaves, improve airflow around plants, and avoid wetting the foliage when watering. If the spots spread, use a labeled fungicide for celery/leaf spot and repeat according to the label interval.

How often should I water celery during the main growing phase (the 6–8 weeks after transplanting)?

Celery needs consistently moist soil—aim for evenly damp, not waterlogged, conditions. Water deeply about 2–3 times per week in warm weather (more often in containers), keeping the root zone evenly moist from transplanting through harvest; mulch helps maintain this balance. If leaves start to look wilted while the soil is only slightly dry, increase watering frequency rather than volume.

How can I tell when Apium graveolens var. dulce (‘Tall Utah’) is ready to harvest?

Harvest when stalks are thick, crisp, and reach the expected mature size (often around the 85-day mark), with a full, sturdy clump rather than thin, loose stems. Pulling too early gives tough, stringy stalks—wait until stalk bases feel firm and the inner stems are well developed. For best eating quality, harvest in the cool part of the day and keep stalks chilled right away.