Utah 52-70

Family: Apiaceae Vegetable

Crisp, cool stalks with a clean, bright snap—Utah 52-70 delivers a refreshing celery flavor that tastes distinctly “garden-fresh” from the first bite.

Expect sturdy, upright growth and a tender, finely textured interior that holds its character well for salads, slaws, and classic flavor-building bundles. Grow it for reliable, uniform performance at about 90 days, when the stalks reach their best balance of crunch and mellow celery sweetness.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 90 DaysHabit: Upright

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 18th
Harvest Begins	Jul 17th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	90
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)	40
Harden Off (days)	7

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Utah 52-70 eats like a cold snap: the ribs stay crisp and tender instead of going stringy, so it doesn’t wilt out under dressing. Use it where you want that bright celery snap to read clearly—especially raw, pickled, or in lightly cooked broths where its sweetness can mellow without disappearing.

Best Uses

raw ribbed crunch in salads and shaved slaws
quick-pickles and brined snacks that stay snappy
classic mirepoix-style flavor base for stocks and braises
flavor-building celery-herb bundles for soups and poaching liquid

Flavor Profile

clean, bright celery flavor cool, crisp snap mellow celery sweetness tender, finely textured interior

Kitchen Pairings

lemon mustard parmesan butter chicken blue cheese

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most commonly affects Apium graveolens (celery), and what should I do?

Celery commonly suffers from early blight/leaf spot and bacterial leaf blight, which show up as dark, water-soaked leaf spots that spread in humid weather. Remove and destroy infected leaves, water at the soil line (not over the foliage), and improve airflow by spacing plants as directed to reduce leaf wetness. If disease persists, apply a labeled copper-based fungicide/bactericide per label directions and avoid harvesting from treated plants until the label’s re-entry/harvest interval.

How often should I water Apium graveolens during the main growing phase, and what soil moisture level should I keep?

During the main growth period, keep the root zone consistently moist—aim for evenly damp soil with no drying out between waterings. In most home gardens this means deep watering about 2–3 times per week, then adjusting to weather so the top 1 inch of soil doesn’t dry. Mulch around plants helps stabilize moisture and supports steady growth of celery petioles.

How can I tell when Apium graveolens is ready to harvest?

Harvest when stalks are firm and reach the typical mature thickness for your planting (often around golf-ball to thumb-size, depending on spacing), usually about 90 days after sowing/transplanting. Pull-test one plant: if the base is tight and the stalks blanch well (if you blanch by covering stems), it’s ready. For peak flavor and crisp texture, harvest in cooler weather and avoid waiting until stalks look loose or overly tall and hollow.