Celery Nutrient Deficiency: Signs, Causes and the Fertilizer That Fixes It
Celery nutrient deficiency is one of the first things to check when the leaves of your kintsay (celery) turn yellow, purple or burnt at the edges. On Philippine farms the usual ones are nitrogen, calcium, boron, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus. This guide shows where each one starts, how to be sure, and the fertilizer that fixes it.
Start with one question: did the change begin on the old leaves or on the young ones? Nitrogen, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus move inside the plant, so a shortage shows on the old, lower leaves first. But calcium and boron stay where the plant first put them, so the young leaves and the growing tip show it first. After that, the color and the pattern narrow down which celery nutrient deficiency you have, and a soil test confirms it. Each one below has its signs, its causes and its fix.
Celery nutrient deficiency signs, old leaves and young leaves
Shows first on the old leaves
| Nutrient | Where it starts | What you see | Fix with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen | old, lower leaves, the whole plant | Oldest outer stalks turn evenly yellow and then almost white. | Calcium nitrate, Urea 46 0 0 |
| Potassium | old, lower leaves, leaf edges and tips | Older leaves look ashy grey green, then bronze, with brown, downturned edges. | Muriate of potash 0 0 60, Sulfate of potash 0 0 50 |
| Magnesium | old, lower leaves, between the veins | Older leaves yellow between the veins while the veins stay green. | Magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt), Dolomite |
| Phosphorus | the whole plant | Plants stay small with slender stalks and dark green leaves. | Ammonium phosphate 16 20 0, Complete 14 14 14 |
Shows first on the young leaves
| Nutrient | Where it starts | What you see | Fix with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calcium | young leaves and the tip | The young heart leaves in the centre turn brown to black and rot. | Calcium nitrate, Agricultural lime |
| Boron | young leaves and the tip | Stalks crack across or split along the veins, like claw marks. | Solubor (sodium borate), Borax |
Before you buy fertilizer for a celery nutrient deficiency
So use the table to pick the likeliest celery nutrient deficiency, then read its section below. Also keep in mind that dry soil, standing water, cold nights, a pest or a disease can look the same. That is why it pays to check the roots and the whole field first.
Nitrogen deficiency in celery
The oldest leaves turn an even yellow first and eventually white, and the yellowing moves up to younger leaves. Growth slows, stalks stay thin and fibrous, and the plant is small at harvest. You see it most at this stage: from about three weeks after transplanting to harvest. Celery has a high nitrogen need.
Why nitrogen deficiency happens in kintsay
Sandy soils, heavy rain or watering, low organic matter, and too few top dressings for a long, hungry crop.
How to tell it apart
Magnesium shortage keeps the veins green on old leaves. Root damage from carrot fly larvae or root rot also yellows plants. To be sure, soil test and leaf tissue test. Hill Labs samples the youngest mature leaf with its stalk when plants are half grown.
What to apply for nitrogen deficiency
Top dress nitrogen in split doses. Give celery up to 200 kg nitrogen per hectare in two or more doses. Start about three weeks after transplanting and repeat three weeks later. Use calcium nitrate instead of ammonium forms, since it helps prevent blackheart.
- Calcium nitrate
- Urea 46 0 0
- Ammonium sulfate 21 0 0
- Complete 14 14 14
Sold here with nitrogen: Atlas Granular Urea (46 0 0) by Atlas Fertilizer, Crown Champion Ammonium Sulfate by Aqua Hydroponic Prime Ventures (21 0 0 with 24 percent sulfur), Agripower 46 0 0 (Locally Blended) Coated by Green Acres Agri Tech and Calcipro by Ramgo (15.5 0 0 with 18.8 percent calcium). Check the FPA registration on the bag and follow the label rate. For the how and when, see our guide to urea fertilizer, and the page on nitrogen deficiency in every crop. In anee.io, Anee, the smart farm technician, reads a photo of the leaf and tells you which nutrient is short.
To keep it away, apply basal nitrogen based on the soil test (usually 50 to 100 kg per hectare, by the soil test) and add manure or compost.
Calcium deficiency in celery
The young leaves in the centre of the plant turn brown, then black, and the growing tip dies and decays. It can hit scattered plants or a whole field. You see it most at this stage: fast growth in hot or dry weather, often after a heavy watering of a dry field.
Why calcium deficiency happens in kintsay
Calcium does not move well inside the plant. So dry soil, irregular watering, and excess potassium or sodium stop it reaching the heart. Heavy nitrogen, especially ammonium, makes it worse.
How to tell it apart
Bacterial soft rot of the heart smells and is slimy from the start. Blackheart begins with browning of the young leaf tips. To be sure, look at the heart leaves of several plants. Soil test for calcium, potassium and pH.
What to apply for calcium deficiency
At first signs, spray 10 to 20 grams of calcium nitrate per liter, or 160 to 320 grams per 16 liter sprayer. A hectare takes 10 to 20 kg in about 1,000 liters of water. Smaller regular sprays prevent it. Keep watering steady. Lime 2 to 4 weeks before planting. Calcium sprays go on young fruit from fruit set.
- Calcium nitrate
- Agricultural lime
- Gypsum
Sold here with calcium: Micronized Activated Calcite by CMCS Agricultural Products (37.6 percent calcium), Dolomite by A6 Agrisource (24 percent calcium and 11 percent magnesium), Titon Pro by Vast Agro (27.2 percent calcium, 6.1 percent silicon and 3.6 percent magnesium) and Calcipro by Ramgo (15.5 0 0 with 18.8 percent calcium). Check the FPA registration on the bag and follow the label rate. For the how and when, see our guide to fertilizer for tomatoes, and the page on calcium deficiency in every crop.
To keep it away, never let the crop go dry, use calcium nitrate for top dressing instead of ammonium nitrogen. Lime acid soil (celery grows best near pH 6.5 to 6.8). Test the soil every two or three years.
Boron deficiency in celery
The skin of the leaf stalks splits along the veins (called cat's claw) or cracks across, and the cracks turn brown. New leaves and stalks are light, brittle and deformed, with short spaces between them and rosetting at the tips. You see it most at this stage: mid growth to harvest.
Why boron deficiency happens in kintsay
Low soil boron, sandy or overlimed soils, dry spells. Celery is prone to both boron shortage and boron excess, and some varieties are more sensitive.
How to tell it apart
Growth cracks from sudden heavy watering are fewer and clean. Boron cracks are many and browned. To be sure, soil test for boron and a leaf tissue test. In a soil test, less than 0.5 ppm of boron is low.
What to apply for boron deficiency
On top of a basal fertilizer that carries boron, give two or so boron leaf sprays once the crop is planted. Follow the product label for the rate, and do not overdo it, because celery is also hurt by excess boron. A usual soil dose is 5 to 10 kg of Borax per hectare (0.5 to 1 kg of boron), mixed evenly with the basal fertilizer. A spray of Borax or Solubor at 0.1 to 0.2 percent (16 to 32 grams in a 16 liter sprayer) before flowering also works. Use the soil dose or the spray, not both.
- Solubor (sodium borate)
- Borax
Sold here with boron: Etifert 11 (Borax Decahydrate) by Zetryl Chem (11 percent boron), Fertibagra 15G by Unilox Far East Resources (14.6 percent boron), B17 (Boric Acid) by Newman Chemicals (17 percent boron) and Better Yield by Bacphil Planters Fertilizer (0 0 0.9 with 10 percent boron). Check the FPA registration on the bag and follow the label rate. For the how and when, see our guide to foliar fertilizer, and the page on boron deficiency in every crop.
To keep it away, use a basal fertilizer that contains boron on sandy or limed fields and choose less sensitive varieties. Test the soil every two or three years. Keep organic matter up with compost, manure or crop residues.
Potassium deficiency in celery
Older leaves look ashy grey green, then bronze or yellowish brown, with brown edges that cup down and small specks along the veins. Stalks are slender and woody and roots are poor. You see it most at this stage: mid growth to harvest. Celery needs a lot of potassium.
Why potassium deficiency happens in kintsay
Sandy or acid soils, heavy rain, and low potash rates for a crop with a very high potassium need.
How to tell it apart
Too much potassium is also a problem, since it brings on blackheart. Balance matters. To be sure, soil test for potassium and a leaf tissue test.
What to apply for potassium deficiency
Apply potash based on the soil test. Give 175 to 375 kg of potassium per hectare for celery depending on the soil test index, usually through a compound fertilizer that also carries boron. Split it on sandy soil.
- Muriate of potash 0 0 60
- Sulfate of potash 0 0 50
- Complete 14 14 14
Sold here with potassium: Atlas Muriate of Potash (MOP) by Atlas Fertilizer (0 0 60), Simplot Sulfate 0 0 50 by Nutranta, Potassium Nitrate by Parafield (13 0 46) and Qrop Mix Production 14 0 23 plus 13 Cao by Farmtech Agriland (14 0 23 with 9.3 percent calcium). Check the FPA registration on the bag and follow the label rate. For the how and when, see our guide to potash fertilizer, and the page on potassium deficiency in every crop.
To keep it away, base potash on a soil test and avoid going far above it, to limit blackheart. Keep organic matter up with compost, manure or crop residues.
Magnesium deficiency in celery
Older leaves turn yellow between the veins while the veins stay green. Leaves become brittle and their edges curl up, and in some plants the yellow areas take a reddish purple tint. You see it most at this stage: mid growth to harvest.
Why magnesium deficiency happens in kintsay
Acid soils, heavy potash fertilizer, and heavy liming with calcium lime only.
How to tell it apart
Nitrogen shortage yellows the whole leaf. Manganese shortage starts on new leaves. To be sure, soil test for magnesium and potassium, and a leaf tissue test.
What to apply for magnesium deficiency
Spray magnesium sulfate on the leaves and correct the soil with dolomite or magnesium sulfate. Follow the soil test for the rate. A usual dose is 100 to 150 kg of Kieserite or 150 to 200 kg of Magnesium sulfate per hectare at planting. On acid soil, 1 to 2 tons of Dolomite mixed in before planting both limes and feeds. For quick help, spray Magnesium sulfate at 1 to 2 percent (160 to 320 grams in a 16 liter sprayer) two or three times, 10 to 14 days apart.
- Magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt)
- Dolomite
Sold here with magnesium: Dolomite by A6 Agrisource (24 percent calcium and 11 percent magnesium), Agsmart Kieserite Granule (20 percent sulfur and 16.3 percent magnesium), DDDD Planter's Choice Magnesium Sulphate Monohydrate by Modern Time (15.1 percent magnesium) and Zetryl MAG 9 by Zetryl Chem (9 percent magnesium). Check the FPA registration on the bag and follow the label rate. For the how and when, see our guide to complete fertilizer, and the page on magnesium deficiency in every crop.
To keep it away, use dolomite rather than plain lime on acid soil, and keep potash balanced.
Phosphorus deficiency in celery
Growth is held back without yellowing. Stalks are slender and woody, leaves are small and darker green, and some plants show a reddish purple cast on leaf undersides. You see it most at this stage: seedling and early growth.
Why phosphorus deficiency happens in kintsay
Acid or iron rich soils, cold or waterlogged soils, and low phosphorus at planting. Celery has a high phosphorus need.
How to tell it apart
Root damage also stunts plants. Check the roots. To be sure, soil test for available phosphorus and pH.
What to apply for phosphorus deficiency
Apply phosphorus at planting based on the soil test. Give celery 28 to 88 kg of phosphorus per hectare, more when the soil test is low.
- Ammonium phosphate 16 20 0
- Complete 14 14 14
- Diammonium phosphate 18 46 0
Sold here with phosphorus: Philphos 18 46 0 (Di Ammonium Phosphate), Atlas Super Gro (16 20 0) by Atlas Fertilizer, Amigo Planters Granular Single Super Phosphate by La Filipina (0 18 0 with 11 percent sulfur) and Triple Super Phosphate by Newman Chemicals (0 46 0). Check the FPA registration on the bag and follow the label rate. For the how and when, see our guide to 16 20 0 fertilizer, and the page on phosphorus deficiency in every crop.
To keep it away, lime acid soil and band phosphorus near the transplants.
A soil test is the surest check for any celery nutrient deficiency. Before you buy, ask your Municipal Agriculture Office where to send a soil sample. The DA regional soil laboratories test soil, and the result says how much of each fertilizer your kintsay needs. That saves money, because extra fertilizer is money lost.
Open the Nutrient Deficiency Finder, pick kintsay, say where the leaves changed first and what you see, and get the fertilizers sold here that fix it.
- Anee, the smart farm technician, reads a photo of the leaf
- The cropping calendar dates every fertilizer application of your season
Celery nutrient deficiency questions
Why are my kintsay leaves turning yellow?
What fertilizer fixes nitrogen deficiency in celery?
What fertilizer fixes calcium deficiency in celery?
What fertilizer fixes boron deficiency in celery?
How do I know which nutrient my kintsay lacks?
Find the missing nutrient and fix it
With Libre + Anee, read the whole guide: how to tell the deficiency from look alikes, how to be sure, what to apply, and the fertilizers sold here that supply it.
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