Apium graveolens dulce has a report as one of the most intimidating vegetables to produce . In fact , many people like to grow it for the challenge ( which give you a sentiency of the personality type of gardeners ! ) However , once you understand what kind of conditions Apium graveolens dulce like , it ’s an gratifying crop to grow in the backyard garden .
Why bother to grow celery?
Celery is one of the most highly treated ceremonious crop grow today , with over a twelve different pesticide unremarkably used . Homegrown organic celery tastes better , has more “ snap ” when fresh , and is innocent of the pesticides used by schematic grower .
Celery or Celeriac?
Celeryrefers to both stem varieties ( the bunches seen in the store ) and cut diverseness , which produce bushier chief of lowly straw . Celeriacis a close relative , grown for the large ashen root of the plant . I ’ll be talking about celery itself , not celeriac , but the growing principles are much the same for both .
Start celery seed indoors over winter
cultivated celery needs a long grow season , between 130 and 140 day for most kind . Theseeds need to be pop indoors10 to 12 weeks before yourfinal Robert Frost date .
For good germination resultant , practice constitutional seed and soak it overnight before plant . begin in shallow trays of seed - starting mix and press the seeds into the surface of the territory rather than covering them . Keep the seeds moist as they sprout – this can be help by putting a at large plastic cup of tea over the tray .
Once you have celery seedlings , graft them into humble peat pots or trays with several column inch of pot mixing , keeping about 2 inches of space between plants . Continue to grow indoors undergrow lightsuntil it is time to graft the seedlings to their terminal destination in the garden . Keep the dirt moist but never waterlogged – celery wish to have its feet wet at all times , and the seedling degree is no elision .
Preparing the garden soil for celery
cultivated celery is a heavy tributary , so work in some compost or organic fertiliser before planting the transplantation . It likes mellow - nitrogen land , so a chicken manure fertilizer would crop well .
take a position that gets stack of direct sun unless you live in a geographical zone like the Southwest U.S. , in which case , make certain the Apium graveolens dulce get afternoon shade or light shade all day . Apium graveolens dulce prefers a evenhandedly cool and moist dirt , so plant it somewhere easy to irrigate and mulch the dirt as want when temperatures rise .
Transplanting celery seedlings
Be careful not to transplant celery too early , as a drop in temperature could kill off the plants . Wait for a consistent temperature of 55 ° F before planting out , and verify to indurate off your transplantation for a few days before you plant them . Space plant 8 column inch apart .
Fertilizing celery
Make trusted your Apium graveolens dulce has a steady diet ofcompost Camellia sinensis , fish or seaweed emulsion , or other constituent fertilizer throughout the growing season , as well as changeless moisture . Dried - out soil makes celery bitter and tough , and not enough organic issue will guide to modest or spindly works .
Celery and friends – companion planting
Another way to keep Apium graveolens dulce happy is by gain certain to follow the principles of fellow traveller planting . Celery benefit from being plant next tobeans , leek , onion , loot , spinach , tomato , and flowers like cosmos , daisies , and snapdragon . The flowers are think to repel pests that like the celery , and the celery repels cabbage moth , making it a with child friend to those crops . debar putting celery near corn whisky , white potato , carrot , Petroselinum crispum , or parsnips , as these may deter its growth .
Pale hearts
If you want to ‘ blanch ’ your celery and keep the inner stalks wan and less strong in gustatory modality ( and in vitamins , sadly ) , then you could gently marry the bunches together after about 8 calendar week in the garden , to keep the internal stalks from the light . you may also keep mounding up soil around the plants as they acquire for the same effect . I in person prefer the morose unripened , strong - taste cultivated celery and do n’t disoblige with this step .
Celery in crop rotation
Celery pests and problems
If your cultivated celery is grown in good organic soil and continue moist , it should be relatively pest - spare . trouble can fare from overwatering , which can cause rotted shuck remnant , and underwatering , which can make the stalks hard , sulphurous , or hollow .
How to harvest and store your celery
you could abridge Apium graveolens dulce stalks individually from the exterior of the works as it grow , or you could harvest the whole head at once . If you curve the stalks about 1 - 2 inches above the soil degree and keep the rostrum water , it may regrow more celery ! Keep your cultivated celery in a perforate plastic bag in the fridge and use it as soon as possible for the good flavor and vitamin content . you may freeze or juiceless celery patch for enjoyment in soup and stews later as well .
How to save celery seed
Celery is a biennial plant , so it wo n’t set seed until the 2nd year in the garden . To save celery seed , winter some stalks and let them develop out the next summer until they flower . Once the flowers die , you will see the seed start to form . When the Apium graveolens dulce flowers are brown and dry and begin to fall off the plant , stir them into a bag to collect the ejaculate . you’re able to keep cultivated celery ejaculate in a sealed container in a coolheaded place for up to five years . expend the ejaculate to implant more celery or as a spice .
We garden in Pennsylvania , United States , zona 6B. Much of the info we share is base on garden in our temperate expanse . But many of the flowers , vegetables , and yield we write about can be mature in soil other than ours ( Lucius DuBignon Clay ) and significantly unlike weather condition and elevations . You might call for to pick out specific varieties for your neighborhood , modify your garden , total soil amendment , or adjust the grime pH to match our results . Please check your local university extension website for specifics for your area .
