![]() It has large, fleshy stalks that are both crunchy and stringy.Ĭelery is a cool-weather crop and considered a relatively hardy biennial plant. ![]() This herbaceous plant is related to parsley, so the celery leaves look very similar to them.Ĭelery originated in the Middle East and the Mediterranean and was used for flavoring and medicine by the Greeks, Romans, and Chinese. Not only will you reap the benefits of crisp, flavorful celery, but you'll also gain a deeper appreciation for the produce on your grocery store shelves.Celery, or Apium graveolens, is a herbaceous vegetable used in soups, stocks, dips, casseroles, and more. You can also use celery leaves, fresh or dried, to add flavor to many dishes.Īs you nurture your celery plants from tiny seeds to thriving, leafy stalks, remember that patience and attention to their specific needs are key ingredients to a bountiful harvest. Then, cut the stem of the entire plant just below where the stalks join. Harvest celery as it reaches the maturity date for the variety you’re growing, and bunches of stalks are tightly clustered. However, while this process makes the stalks less stringy, it reduces their nutritional value. If you want extra tender, mildly-flavored, white stalks of celery, you can blanch them by mounding the soil around the plants as they grow. Avoid root vegetables like carrots or potatoes, which can disturb celery roots. Good companion plants for celery include mint, nasturtiums and marigolds. A lack of water causes length-wise splitting of the stalks and black heart, a problem often affecting celery as it matures.Ĭonsider companion planting with other vegetables that will deter pests and increase flavor and yields. Drip irrigation works well because overhead watering can encourage the growth of foliar diseases. Keep the plants evenly watered while they grow. Larger seedlings have a higher bolting rate and a greater chance of transplant shock, so timing is crucial. Space the plants about eight inches apart in rows two feet apart when low outdoor temperatures are 50 to 55☏, and the seedlings are about five inches tall. However, celery also needs good drainage, so be sure the spot you choose does not get waterlogged or take measures to improve the drainage before planting. Planting Celery in the GardenĪ low-lying area in the garden is optimum for growing celery due to its need for constant moisture. When the plants are about two inches tall, transplant them into larger pots until outdoor temperatures are suitable for moving them into the garden. In addition, it’s crucial to keep the seed flats evenly moist at all times during germination, which can take up to three weeks. One option to make it easier is mixing the seeds with some clean, fine sand and then dusting the mixture onto the soil surface.ĭue to celery’s problems with soil-borne pathogens that can cause damping-off, you might want to consider starting the seeds in a sterile seed starting mix or coco coir.Ĭelery seeds require an even temperature of 70☏ and light exposure to germinate, so cover the seeds very lightly with perlite or soil mix. ‘Picador,’ ‘Matador,’ and ‘Vicar’ are among the many types resistant to fusarium wilt.įor best results, start celery seeds indoors under grow lights 8 to 10 weeks before the last average frost date and use fresh seeds from a reliable source.Ĭelery seeds are tiny and hard to handle.‘ Utah Tall’ is a long-season type with deep ribs maturing in about 115 days. ![]()
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