Crop type: Celery
Apium graveolens var. dulce ‘Tango’
Common name: Celery ‘Tango’
Crop slug: celery
This Allotment Pro editorial draft summarises the cited RHS cultivar profile. Check the source and adjust cultivation decisions for local conditions.RHS cultivar profile
1 - Overview
‘Tango’ is a reliable, fast-growing self-blanching celery producing pale-green stalks with good flavour. It tolerates less-than-ideal growing conditions, has strong resistance to bolting and forms a clean columnar plant without side-shoots. These traits make it a forgiving choice for consistent stalk production.
2 - Size
- Ultimate height
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- Ultimate spread
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- Time to ultimate size
- 1 year
The plant reaches harvestable size within one annual cycle.
3 - Growing conditions
- Suitable soils
- Clay, loam and sand
- Moisture
- Well-drained or moist but well-drained
- Soil pH
- Acid, neutral or alkaline
Although tolerant, it still crops best in fertile soil supplied with steady moisture.
4 - Position and hardiness
- Light
- Full sun
- Aspect
- South- or west-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- Hardiness
- H2 — tolerant of low temperatures but not surviving frost
Protect seedlings from chilling even though the mature cultivar has useful bolting tolerance.
5 - Colour and seasonal interest
No seasonal colour values are assigned. Its edible feature is a tidy upright bunch of smooth pale-green self-blanching stalks beneath green divided leaves.
6 - Botanical details
- Family
- Apiaceae
- Native to Great Britain and Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Columnar and upright
- Name status
- Accepted
- Potentially harmful
- Plant sap may harm skin in sunlight; wear gloves and protective clothing when handling
Genus
Apium contains annual, biennial and perennial herbs with divided or pinnate foliage and tiny white summer flowers held in umbels.
7 - How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in full sun in fertile, moist but well-drained soil. Sow indoors from March to April in trays or modules and transplant seedlings once large enough and outdoor conditions are warm. Low temperatures can cause bolting, so harden plants carefully and delay planting if necessary.
Propagation
Propagate by seed.
Pruning
No pruning is required, and the cultivar naturally produces no side-shoots.
Pests
Plants may be susceptible to celery leaf-mining fly, slugs and snails.
Diseases
Plants may be susceptible to celery leaf spot.