Celery, native to the Mediterranean, grows best in temperate climates with temperatures between 15 and 21 ° C. Since celery requires a long cultivation, it can be difficult to grow in some areas and grows best when the seeds are planted indoors. While not easy to work with, celery plants produce delicious, crunchy stems when grown in moist, nitrogen-rich soils in temperate climate zones. Follow the next steps to learn how to grow celery in your garden.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Choose a Variety
Step 1. Cutting celery is part of the genus Apium graveolens - secalinum
It grows with a sturdy stem and produces delicious leaves that have more aroma than other varieties. There are several varieties of celery for cutting, among which the best known are Par-Cel, of Dutch origin, Safir, very aromatic, and Flora-55.
Step 2. Celeriac is part of the genus Apium graveolens - rapaceum
It grows with a large root that can be harvested and eaten along with the stems. A root takes about 100 days to grow long enough to be harvested and eaten. Celeriac, which prefers cool marine climates, includes several varieties, including Brilliant, Giant Prague, Mentor, President and Diamant.
Step 3. Traditional celery is part of the genus Apium graveolens - dulce
Traditional celery grows in temperate climates and takes 105 to 130 days to ripen and harvest.
- It does not like extreme temperatures and grows best with temperatures below 24 ° C during the day and between 10 and 15 ° C at night.
- It includes varieties such as Conquistador and Monterey, which harvest earlier than the other varieties, Golden Boy, which produces small stems, and Tall Utah, which has large stems.
Method 2 of 4: Prepare the Garden
Step 1. Choose an area in full sun and / or partially in dim light
Although it prefers temperate climates, celery likes full sun. However, it will also grow well in shady areas.
Step 2. Choose an area with rich and humid soils
Originally a plant of marshy areas, celery tolerates rather humid soil conditions unlike other vegetables. However, be sure to plant in land that does not tend to flood.
- You may want to grow celery in an elevated flowerbed. Remember, however, that some varieties form very large roots, so make sure the bed is deep enough.
- Use cedar wood to contain the flowerbed, if possible, because it does not rot with water.
Step 3. Check the pH of the soil
Celery prefers slightly acidic soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Celery does not require perfect drainage unlike most vegetables, however it does need rich, thriving soils.
- Measure magnesium and calcium levels to determine what kind of stones to add to the soil. If the soil is low in magnesium, add dolomite stones. If it has a lot of magnesium, add calcite.
- Add the stones two or three months before planting to allow the minerals to be absorbed. After adding, check the pH again.
Step 4. Fertilize the soil with manure, compost, or other high nitrogen fertilizer
Mix about 10 cm of natural fertilizer into the soil. Celery prefers soils rich in organic substances. This will help the seedlings to grow into robust and productive plants.
Method 3 of 4: Plant Celery
Step 1. Start planting the seeds indoors 10 to 12 weeks before the last spring frosts
You can sow the seeds in peat pots with several seeds per cell to make sure at least one turns into a seedling.
- To speed up germination, you can soak the seeds the night before.
- Cover the seeds with about 2.5 cm of potting soil, but do not compact the soil with your fingers after sowing the seeds. Celery needs a lot of light to germinate. Water the pots to moisten the soil after planting the seeds.
- Place the pots in a warm place so that the soil maintains a temperature between 21 and 24 ° C until the seeds germinate. This should take two to three weeks.
- After germination, move the seedlings to a cooler place so that the soil has a temperature between 15 and 21 ° C. Carefully thin out the seedlings so that one remains per cell.
Step 2. Transfer the seedlings to the garden two weeks before the last spring frost
Make sure it isn't too cold outdoors. Celery tolerates light frosts, however temperatures below 13 ° C during the day and 4.5 ° C at night for more than a week can damage the plants.
Step 3. Arrange the seedlings at a distance of 15 - 30 cm from each other in rows 45 - 90 cm apart
You just need to make holes a little deeper than the cells where the seedlings are located. Tap on the sides of the cells to free the seedlings without damaging the roots.
Step 4. Place the seedlings in the ground and cover with soil
Cover up to the level of the first leaves and lightly compact the area around the seedlings with the help of your hands.
Step 5. Water the soil well
Celery requires constant moisture, so never let the soil dry out. If the celery does not get enough water, the stalks will become woody and bitter. Be sure to water several times a week and increase watering during long dry, hot periods.
Step 6. Add mulch
To keep the soil cool and moist, add about two inches of mulch made of leaves, grass, hay, or other plant materials to the soil. This reduces the chance of weeds.
Method 4 of 4: Caring for Celery Plants
Step 1. Fertilize every 2 - 4 weeks
Celery plants are great devourers that require rich soil to be fertilized often. To satisfy celery plants, fertilize with nitrogen fertilizer every two weeks from when you planted until harvest.
Step 2. Water regularly
The most important thing in caring for celery plants is to make sure they are always well hydrated. If they don't get enough water, celery plants become woody and bitter.
Step 3. Blanch the celery 7 to 10 days before harvesting
Bleaching is about protecting the stems from the sun to give a milder flavor. Cover the stems with newspaper, a milk carton with the top and bottom removed, or any other kind of paper or cardboard. You can use twine to tie the stems and prevent them from developing out of control.
- Bleaching is not required, it certainly changes the taste and color of celery. Additionally, bleached celery has fewer nutrients. Many prefer the sweeter taste of bleached celery.
- Be careful as some varieties "whiten themselves" and do not need bleaching.
Step 4. Collect the stems, leaves, and / or roots
You can start harvesting the stems when they reach twenty cm in height. Start harvesting from the outer stems and proceed inwards. This allows the innermost stems to continue to ripen.
- Once ripe, the uncollected celery keeps for almost a month as long as the soil temperature is kept between 15, 5 and 24 ° C.
- The more celery grows and darkens, the richer it will be in antioxidants and nutrients. However, it also gets harder and more woody.
Advice
- If you only want to harvest a few stalks of celery to use, be careful not to damage the plant as it could get sick.
- Store celery in plastic bags in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
- Buds with celery leaves are edible.
Warnings
- Insufficient water causes disease; this happens especially when celery does not have enough water and does not absorb calcium.
- Weeds include aphids, thrips and slugs. Fungal infections and leaf fungi can be a problem; use a fungicide.
