Blanching trench celery ?

[wetwalnut]

Hi all,

I am keen to try for the first time growing celery.

I have got the trench variety Green Utah, and Golden Self Blanching Aurora seeds ready for sowing soon.

I have heard that self blanching celery is not as good quality but easier to grow.

Iam going to try both but was wondering what to blanch the Green Utah with. It says an the pack to earth up as the plant grows only showing the foliage.

This must be hard as I have also read somewhere that you should cover the plant with something ? to stop the soil getting to the heart of the plant when earthing up.

Cardborad rings of somesort spring to mind but they must breakdown easily when wet.

Any ideas ?

[Suky]

I look forward to any suggestions as I would like to try celery too.

[Kristen]

Cardborad rings of somesort spring to mind but they must breakdown easily when wet.

Corrugated cardboard, from memory.

I don't think it matters if it rots - it just has to form a "barrier" between the celery and the soil so the soil does get the chance to get in between the sticks of the Celery as it grows.

But I've only grown self-blanching, 'coz I'm lazy

[Patchninja]

I can remember, way back when I was likkle, that people used to tie newspaper round celery.

[VirginVegGrower]

Patchninja is correct on using newspaper. I sowed a self blanching last year and it went stringy???

[Aberdeenplotter]

I use corrugated cardboard together with builders damp course membrane. Works well for me.

[wetwalnut]

I was thinking of using corru cardboard with builders breather membrane.
That seems a good idea. Thanks