{
  "schema_version": 1,
  "record_type": "plant",
  "slug": "celery",
  "common_name": "Celery",
  "botanical_name": "Apium graveolens var. dulce",
  "family": "Apiaceae",
  "summary": "Celery is a long-season stem crop that needs fertile soil, uninterrupted moisture and careful establishment to produce crisp, mild stalks.",
  "categories": [
    "stem vegetable",
    "cool-season crop",
    "container crop"
  ],
  "growth_habits": [
    "upright",
    "self-blanching",
    "trench"
  ],
  "lifecycle": "Biennial usually grown as an annual",
  "difficulty": "Challenging",
  "requirements": {
    "light": {
      "minimum_direct_sun_hours": 6,
      "preferred_direct_sun_hours": 8
    },
    "soil_ph": {
      "minimum": 6.5,
      "maximum": 7.5
    },
    "container": {
      "minimum_volume_litres": 20,
      "minimum_diameter_cm": 30,
      "plants_per_container": 1
    },
    "spacing": {
      "minimum_cm": 23,
      "maximum_cm": 30
    },
    "planting_out": {
      "minimum_reliable_temperature_c": 10,
      "frost_tolerant": false,
      "note": "Harden plants carefully and protect them from prolonged cold, which can trigger bolting."
    },
    "harvest": {
      "typical_uk_months": [
        "July",
        "October"
      ]
    }
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "rhs-growing-celery",
      "publisher": "Royal Horticultural Society",
      "url": "https://www.rhs.org.uk/vegetables/celery/grow-your-own",
      "supports": [
        "types",
        "sowing",
        "planting",
        "watering",
        "blanching",
        "harvest"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "usu-growing-celery",
      "publisher": "Utah State University Extension",
      "url": "https://extension.usu.edu/yardandgarden/research/celery-in-the-garden",
      "supports": [
        "soil",
        "spacing",
        "transplants",
        "watering",
        "feeding",
        "problems"
      ]
    }
  ]
}