Cutting Celery (Leaf Celery) in Zone 3a & 3b
Apium graveolens
Yes, cutting celery (leaf celery) grows in zones 3a and 3b. Start seeds indoors Apr 4–Apr 11 and plant out May 30–Jun 6.
When to plant cutting celery (leaf celery) in zone 3b
Zones 3a and 3b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Either works.
| Start indoors | Apr 4–Apr 11 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | May 30–Jun 6 |
| Estimated harvest | Aug 3–Aug 10 (~65 days after planting) |
Spacing: 4 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1.5 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 3b
These go outside within two weeks of cutting celery (leaf celery) in zone 3b, so one planting day can cover them.
- CabbageMay 16–May 23
- TomatoJun 13–Jun 20
- Bush BeansJun 6–Jun 13
- Sweet CornJun 6–Jun 13
- LettuceMay 16–May 23
- CucumberJun 6–Jun 13
Cutting celery is the same species as the celery sold blanched and bundled at the grocery store, but it's an entirely different plant to grow and use: thin, hollow stems and leaves with a much more concentrated celery flavor, treated more like a fresh herb thrown into soups and stocks than a vegetable eaten on its own.
How cutting celery (leaf celery) fits zone 3's season
Zone 3b's frost-free window runs about 98 days, from May 30 to September 5. Cutting celery (leaf celery) needs about 65 days from sowing to first harvest.
Cutting Celery (Leaf Celery) planting windows in every zone
Zone 3b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2a & 2b | Mar 25–Apr 1 | May 20–May 27 | Jul 24–Jul 31 |
| 3a & 3b (your zone) | Apr 4–Apr 11 | May 30–Jun 6 | Aug 3–Aug 10 |
| 4a & 4b | Mar 20–Mar 27 | May 15–May 22 | Jul 19–Jul 26 |
| 5a & 5b | Mar 15–Mar 22 | May 10–May 17 | Jul 14–Jul 21 |
| 6a & 6b | Feb 28–Mar 7 | Apr 25–May 2 | Jun 29–Jul 6 |
| 7a & 7b | Feb 13–Feb 20 | Apr 10–Apr 17 | Jun 14–Jun 21 |
| 8a & 8b | Jan 28–Feb 4 | Mar 25–Apr 1 | May 29–Jun 5 |
| 9a & 9b | Dec 21–Dec 28 | Feb 15–Feb 22 | Apr 21–Apr 28 |
| 10a & 10b | Dec 5–Dec 12 | Jan 30–Feb 6 | Apr 5–Apr 12 |
Harvest dates are about 65 days after the sow or plant-out date, not after starting seeds indoors.
Zone 2 sows before zone 3 here, which looks wrong and is not. USDA zones rank winter cold, not season length, and zone 2 is mostly interior Alaska, where hard winters come with warm summers. More on what a zone measures.
Good companions
No well-established companions for cutting celery (leaf celery).
Where to buy cutting celery seeds
None of the seed suppliers we list carries cutting celery seeds right now. A local garden center or a specialty seed house is the place to look.
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing cutting celery (leaf celery)" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 3b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Cutting Celery (Leaf Celery) in USDA zone 3b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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