Does this look like celery? It popped up this year in a herb planter I had from last year. I might've planted parsley last year, and perhaps a stump from a celery stalk I bought from the grocery store but I am not aware of celery lasting through the winter. Or could it just be a weed? Located in Toronto, Canada Thanks!
Not Parsley. Could be Celery, but be careful - some relatives of Celery, notably the water-dropworts Oenanthe spp., are toxic. Taste a small bit of leaf, and if it tastes just like Celery, you'll be OK, but if it tastes obviously different, don't eat any more.
Not now - disturbing the roots at the height of the growing season wouldn't be good for it. I'd still recommend tasting a small piece of leaf to see if it is a recognisable flavour (or nasty!).
Even tasting some Apiaceae plants may have bad consequences. Both celery and parsnip have very characteristic smells. I'd do only this instead.
maybe I will cut a piece of the stalk as I dont smell much from just the leaves themselves (I also dont know what parsnip leaves smell like).
it smells like nothing but I do have seasonal allergies! I am afraid to cut the stalk to smell it as I read it could cause photodermetitis? Minnesota Seasons - wild parsnip I guess the best bet is to let it flower and see what it looks like?