Celery advice

[theusualsuspect]

I've tried some celery for the 1st time this year, but am quite confused about the way to grow it. Hopefully someone can assist ?

I got a whole seed tray of mini plants going successfully, having started them off about 6-8 weeks ago. They're each about 2 inches high and going well.

The problem I have is how to transplant them. I've been told to put them in a trench then gradually earth them up with newspaper collars, and to keep them very, very wet. Almost bog-like conditions in fact.

The question is, do you put them in a trench shaped like \_/ so that they're below the surface of do I plant them on the surface and then mound them up later ?

Any advice welcome.

[bobleponge]

Celery is a difficult and time consuming thing to grow, predominantly due to the water requirements. Almost bog like would do fine, but trying to keep them that wet during what is laughingly known as an English summer isnt easy. They need a sunny place, will tolerate a bit of shade, but they also need to be kept wet.
If they are non self blanchers, which they appear to be if you are going to earth them up, then yes, plant them in a trench, when they have 5-6 leaves on them, I plant right up to the leaves.
They are also quite hungry so try and ensure they have manure or something in the trench.
Oh, and keep them wet.

[julsthomas]

Hi

I am also trying to grow celery for the first time. I bought some plug plants from a local nursery and they are self blanching so I don't have to worry about putting collars round them.

The instructions were to keep them well watered which I have done - haven't kept them 'bog like', would have been difficult this weekend with such hot weather.

So far plants are growing, nice and green and thickening up so I am looking forward to some celery later in the year!

Julie

[COMPOST CORNER]

When is celery normally ready to crop?
I know it can be lifted young, but I'm guessing it takes a while to reach maturity?

[theusualsuspect]

Update on my now out of date post.

Lifting some lovely celery with a lovely taste.

Thanks for any tips.

[lottie dolly]

Update on my now out of date post.

Lifting some lovely celery with a lovely taste.

Thanks for any tips.

well done,be proud of them,after 2 years of failing i managed to grow this year,but they are small horrible hard stringy things,so be proud of yourself

[BumbleB]

Glad your celery has grown well. It seems it is not a favourite to grow here. I put up a post about the method we used to grow it .
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ods_37856.html
Ours has turned out nice and white and tasty too.

[theusualsuspect]

When is celery normally ready to crop?
I know it can be lifted young, but I'm guessing it takes a while to reach maturity?

Mine is now ready (mid-September) but I'm hoping I can hold off making 'celery-soup' until about mid-October.

Thanks for all the positive sentiments, it's been a bit of a chore growing them, but I love a challenge and the taste..... wow.

[Two_Sheds]

well done on your celery crop. I found it too much of a faff to grow and it was still always stringy. It's celeriac all the way for me now

[bobleponge]

Good effort Theusualsuspect, I have tried a couple of times but failed for various reasons.

Not an easy thing to grow well.

[solway cropper]

I've been picking it for the last couple of months....all container grown in very big pots. At first it was very nice and could be used in salads but it's very stringy now and just goes into soups which are put through the blender. I'll give it another go next year as I do like the taste but I've realized it's not an easy crop to get right.

[zazen999]

After some advice from Allotment Lady, I now grow mine in seed trays, which sit permanently in a gravel tray with an inch of water. I use it like cut and come again, and take a handful when needed.

[Twinsane]

I grew self blanching and pretty much left it to its own devices and it did well. Not too stringy either. I think I overdid it and I've given tons away with half a bed full still.