Tall Utah 52-70R

Family: Apiaceae Vegetable

Crisp, sea-sweet stalks rise tall and true, delivering a clean snap with a bright, herbal fragrance that lingers as you break the ribs.

Tall Utah 52-70R forms sturdy, upright plants with a dense, tender texture—ideal for refreshing salads, vibrant slaws, and silky sauces where celery’s signature flavor shines. A cool-season favorite at about 70 days, it’s a dependable choice for gardeners who want long, elegant stalks with excellent eating quality.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 70 DaysHabit: Upright

Botanical illustration of Tall Utah 52-70R

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 25th
Harvest Begins	Jul 4th
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)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	7

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Tall Utah’s eating quality is all about that crisp, sea-sweet snap and the lingering green perfume that survives being chopped thin for slaw or blended for a smooth soup. Skip the heavy alliums here—this celery wants bright acid, fat (butter), and herbs that amplify its clean, herbal finish.

Best Uses

tall-stalk slaws with a crunchy, rib-holding dressing
raw crudités and pickles where the ribs need to stay crisp
celery-forward soups and stocks that taste like the stalk, not just aromatics
silky purées or velouté-style sauces where celery’s perfume should carry

Flavor Profile

clean, sea-sweet snap bright herbal fragrance tender, string-resistant ribs cool, lightly bitter celery finish

Kitchen Pairings

lemon tarragon butter parmesan chicken stock ham

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most commonly affects Apium graveolens var. dulce (celery/giant red celery) in home gardens, and how can I manage it?

Celery commonly suffers from leaf blight and early blight-like spotting (often driven by high humidity and long wet leaf periods). Water at the soil line and avoid wetting the foliage, then remove badly spotted outer leaves to reduce spore buildup; if problems persist, rotate beds and consider a labeled fungicide for edible crops, applied according to the label. Watch for aphids on tender leaf stems—rinse them off with a strong jet of water or spot-treat with insecticidal soap to prevent curling and virus spread.

How often should I water celery (Apium graveolens var. dulce) during its main growth phase?

During the main growth phase, keep the root zone consistently moist—about 1 to 2 inches of water per week total, adjusted for heat and rainfall. Aim for evenly damp soil (not puddled) by watering deeply when the top 1 inch begins to dry, then mulch to slow drying; fluctuating moisture can cause bitterness and weak, fibrous growth. If grown in part sun, still check moisture frequently because afternoon drying can be rapid.

How do I tell when this celery is ready to harvest (around 70 days)?

Harvest when stalks are thick, crisp, and reach their mature size, and the central stems are well-filled rather than hollow or stringy. If you gently pull or lift a stalk, it should come up firmly with the plant’s base, and the color should be uniform for the variety’s red/green tones without excessive leaf floppiness. For best quality, harvest before stalks become too fibrous—use days to maturity (~70) as a guide and confirm thickness and firmness first.