Celery seedling

[cazp]

Hi
Some of my celery seedlings are not standing upright, but are resting on a part of the stem near the first leaves... is this normal? and if not can anything be done to improve their posture?

[Nes]

not grown celery before - my first time this year, but I would suggest that since they are meant to be earthed up, they would be fine if you just repotted them up to their seed leaves.

[zazen999]

I'd just put some soil on the top of that pot to cover the lying down bit. It will be fine I'm sure.

[Florence Fennel]

Definitely with Zaz on this one. I grew celery in buckets last year and was surprised at how easy it was. They need an awful lot of water - I kept the buckets in "saucers" and topped up the water every time it was empty. My mistake was that I put too many plants into one bucket so it was a bit spindly. My rule this year is one plant in one bucket and hopefully I can look forward to a good harvest.

[Vince G]

I'm growing celery for te first time this year and after they got their first proper celery-like leaves, I re-potted them into small fibre pots individually. I buried them up to their leaves and they've grown on well and upright, so I'm hopeful I've done it right.

[Arthur Pounder]

I potted on my celery seedlings today too, and they were the same as yours. I thought it was because the tray they germinated in was too shallow. I just sunk them up to the seed leaves in 9cm pots.

Given their current size, they should be ready in about five years.

[solway cropper]

They look a bit 'drawn'*as if they've been trying to reach the light. As others say, pot em up to the seed leaves.

I grow celery four plants to a 12 inch square pot. If you wrap something like plastic damp proof course membrane round the outside of them it keeps off the light and helps blanch them. Beware slugs, though. They LOVE celery.

[cazp]

Thrilled to say that the leggy little seedlings I first reported turned in to fine plants which I am now harvesting from - they are lovely and flavoursome (more so than supermarket) and not too stringy.

The variety is Lathom Galaxy self blanching and I put 4 in a square foot - fits nicely. First time I have grown celery and will definately do again next year.

By the way, the stems are still quite green - will they stay this colour and is it only the blanched varieties that are white?

[taff]

celery stems are only white if blanched or self banching.
they're usually green, it means a stronger flavour, I prefer it

[cazp]

I agree the stronger flavour delicious. I have been harvesting a stick or two a day - anyone know how long I can do this before it stops growing stalks?