Chapter 10. Minor Vegetable Crop Production
Christian F. Miller, Qingren Wang, Ramdas Kanissery, Eugene J. McAvoy, Richard N. Raid,
Crystal A. Snodgrass, Julien Beuzelin, Dakshina R. Seal, Alicia J. Whidden, and Shouan Zhang
Celery, Okra, and Parsley
Botany and Planting
Celery - Apium graveolens, Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)
Okra – Abelmoschus esculentus, Malvaceae
Parsley - Petroselinum crispum, Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)
Table 10.1. Planting information for celery, okra, parsley.
Celery Okra Parsley
North Florida Aug - Feb Mar - Jun Sept - Mar
Central Florida Sept - Mar Feb - Aug Sept - Mar
South Florida Oct - Mar Jan - Mar/Aug - Oct All year
Distance between rows (in) 18-40 36 - 60 6 - 12
Distance between plants (in) 6-12 4 - 10 drilled
Seeding depth (in) on surface 0.5 - 1.0 0.25
Seed per acre (lb) 1 - 2 6 - 81 6 - 8
Days to maturity from seed 75 - 90 60 - 70 70 - 80
Plant population (acre) 58,080 43,560 1 million+
Cultivars
Table 10.2. Common cultivars of celery, okra, and parsley.
Celery Okra Parsley
Floribelle - M9 Annie Oakley II (H1) Forest Green (CL1)
June Belle Cajun Delight (H) Jade (CL, H)
Florida 683 Clemson Spineless Improved Market Gardeners (CL)
Clemson Spineless 80 Dark Green Italian (PL)
Millionaire (H)
North and South (H)
Spike (H)
1 H=hybrid, CL=curley leaf, PL=plain leaf
Table 10.3. Herbicides approved for managing weeds in celery. (continued)
Labels change frequently. Be sure to read a current product label before applying any chemical.
Active ingredient Trade name MOA
lb. a.i./A product/A code Weeds controlled / remarks
*** PREPLANT / PREEMERGENCE ***
Bensulide (Prefar) 4 E 8 Broadleaf and grass weeds. Incorporate mechanically 1 - 2 in. deep or with irrigation 2 - 4 in. deep.
5.0 - 6.0 5 - 5 qt.
Carfentrazone (Aim) 1.9 EW 14 Apply as a preplant burn down for emerged broadleaf weeds. Use crop oil concentrate, methylated seed oil,
or nonionic surfactant at recommended rates. Maximum rate of 0.096 lb. a.i./A per season. No pretransplant
interval.
up to 0.031
(Aim) 2.0 EC
Glyphosate (various formulations) 9 Emerged broadleaf and grass weeds. Apply as a preplant burn down. Consult label for individual product
consult labels directions.
Pelargonic acid (Scythe) 4.2 EC 27 Emerged broadleaf and grass weeds. Apply as a preplant burn down treatment. Scythe is a contact and
3 - 10% v/v nonresidual and can be tank mixed residual preemergence herbicides to lengthen control.
Prometryn (Caparol) 4 L 5 Most annual broadleaf and grass weeds. Do not exceed one application. Consult label for rotational crop
1.0 - 2.0 2 - 4 pt. restrictions.
(ET Herbicide/Defoliant) 14 Broadleaf and grass weeds. Burndown preplant application 1 day before planting. Include a NIS or COC in
0.0008 - 0.003 the spray solution.
S-metolachlor (Dual Magnum) 15 Broadleaf, grass weeds, and nutsedge. Label is a Third Party Registration (TPR, Inc.) and authorization and
0.95 - 1.26 1.0 - 1.33 pt. waiver agreements must be obtained prior to use. Rates are based on organic matter.
3 Annual broadleaf and grass weeds. Do not apply to muck soils. Mineral soils with 2 - 5% organic material,
0.5 1 pt. apply 0.75 lb. a.i./A. Incorporate 4 in. or less with 8 hr. of application.
5 lb.