Apium graveolens var. dulce 'Victoria F1': professional, robust, and flavorful celery

Apium graveolens var. dulce 'Victoria F1' is a mid-early maturing, bolt-resistant celery variety beloved by both professional growers and discerning home gardeners. This hybrid combines excellent flavor, reliable growth, and high disease resistance, and has been awarded the prestigious RHS Award of Garden Merit—a recognition for varieties with exceptional performance in flavor, yield, and reliability.

'Victoria F1' is known as one of the best-tasting celery varieties on the market. The plant produces firm, straight, and juicy stalks with an intensely fresh, slightly spicy, and aromatic flavor. Thanks to its resistance to bolting and fungal leaf diseases (including Septoria apiicola ), this variety is particularly suitable for both early and regular cultivation.

Key Features

• Type: Celery (Apium graveolens var. dulce)

• Variety: Victoria F1

• Maturation: Medium early

• Shoot resistance: Very high

• Resistance: Excellent resistance to leaf mold ( Septoria )

• Taste: Fresh, mild, aromatic celery flavour

• Uses: Fresh, for soups, stews, salads and juices

• Cultivation method: Sow from March to May

• Planting distance: 30 x 30 cm

• Harvest period: From the end of June until the first frost

• Award: RHS Award of Garden Merit

Growth and cultivation

'Victoria F1' was developed for commercial production but also performs excellently in the vegetable garden. The plants grow vigorously and produce straight, uniform, high-quality stems. They can withstand cooler spring conditions, allowing cultivation to begin relatively early.

Cultivation advice:

• Sowing: Sow indoors from March to May at 18–20 °C.

• Pricking out: Carefully prick out seedlings as soon as they have 2 true leaves.

• Planting out: Do not plant out before the last late frost.

• Planting distance: 30 x 30 cm for optimal air circulation.

• Soil: Rich, moist, well-drained and humus-rich.

• Fertilization: Regular applications of organic matter or compost promote succulent stems.

• Water: Keep the soil constantly moist to prevent tough stems.

A key advantage of Victoria F1 is its tolerance to stressful conditions, such as temperature fluctuations or short-term drought. This makes the variety particularly well-suited to the varying European climates.

Quality and taste

Victoria F1 celery stalks are straight, firm, and bright green, with an excellent balance of aroma and mildness. The fiber structure is fine, resulting in a tender, crunchy bite without stringiness. This makes this celery particularly enjoyable both raw and cooked.

The flavor is subtly spicy, fresh, and slightly salty, ideal for a variety of uses—from the classic celery stick with dip to aromatic broths and fresh juices. Its natural juiciness preserves the flavor well even after heating.

Disease resistance and reliability

One of Victoria F1's most important qualities is its resistance to leaf fungal diseases, particularly Septoria apiicola , a common problem in celery cultivation. This characteristic makes the variety exceptionally reliable and reduces the need for preventative treatments, making it ideal for organic and integrated cultivation methods.

In addition, 'Victoria F1' is highly resistant to premature bolting, even under less stable temperature or light conditions. This ensures a consistent and predictable harvest quality, essential in professional breeding programs.

Applications and combinations

Celery 'Victoria F1' is not only productive and tasty, but also versatile.

• Culinary: The stems can be used raw, stewed or cooked.

• Combinations: Combines well with lettuce, cucumbers, and cabbage in crop rotation or mixed beds — crops that interact favorably.

• Decorative: The fresh green stems and healthy leaves also provide an attractive appearance in the garden or vegetable garden.

Conclusion

Apium graveolens var. dulce 'Victoria F1' is a top-class celery variety that bridges the gap between professional and amateur growers. With its excellent flavor, upright growth, high disease resistance, and bolting resistance, it is a prime example of modern vegetable breeding. The recognition of the RHS Award of Garden Merit underscores the exceptional quality and reliability of this variety.

Whether you grow for fresh consumption, processing, or sale, 'Victoria F1' offers a consistent, healthy, and flavorful harvest that performs impressively even under challenging conditions—from early summer right through to the first frost.