Celery problems. :(

[gardening_gal]

I left the house today early this morning. I left strict instructions about opening the polytunnel and watering the plants within (bear in mind they are all container plants). Some were to be taken out and put in the garden.

I have just arrived home to find many of the plants limp and all my celery plants completely cowped (fallen over/limp/wilted/shrivelled).

It seems only some of the plants got watered and even then, they didn't get enough and they've wilted in the heat here today. I'm not even convinced the tunnel got opened when it was supposed to.

I'm seriously fed up. I know they are 'only' plants but they are the only thing/hobby I have for *me* and I've put a lot of effort into that tunnel and it's contents.

Anyway the purpose of this thread isn't to rant (although apologies as I've clearly just done that very thing), the purpose is to ask if (and it's a big IF) the celery survive this, will they still be viable?

I'm sure I read somewhere that if celery get stressed, they get inedible but I can't find the article again.

Are they bin material now? The plants were around 12" high but are presently horizontal.

Is it too late to sow new seeds?

That's what I get for being smug in the thread about my pepper plant, they do say pride comes before a fall!

[Penellype]

Really all you can do is give them some water and wait and see. Plants do actually want to survive so there is a chance they will pick up. I've not grown celery (I don't like it much) so I can't be more specific than that I'm afraid.

[Alison]

Give them a really good water and cross your fingers. Celery is a very thirsty plant. Re the temperature, I leave my tunnel doors open 24 / 7 at this time of year so no worries re early heat. That said, mine is on the plot and I couldn't get there before work every day so I don't really have an option.

On a related note, do you normally grow it under cover? I've never done particularly well with it (don't like the stuff and only grow it for OH, think it knows...........) but have always grown outside, never occurred to me to pamper it.

[Bill HH]

I grew it last year and it was very successful but I couldn't eat it fast enough and a lot went to seed, that's my worry with yours, the shock may force it to bolt. Suck it and see is all you can do. I hope you have made your views know to whoever didn't do a proper job.

[solway cropper]

Celery is a water plant and really needs to be kept wet rather than just moist. I'd also not grow it under cover, it doesn't need protection. I've grown it for about 6 years and it can be temperamental but if it bolts or gets a bit stringy just put it through the blender and freeze it for use as a flavouring in soups.

[taff]

Mine has been droughted a couple of times, once badly enough to crisp the leaves. It's survuved so far, but I grow it for soup and stuff.
It's fine now.

[gardening_gal]

@Alison, this is the first time I've grown it. The plants were about to come out of the tunnel today ironically. I need to keep the tunnel closed at night because it's quite cold here at the moment (it was only 7.5C the other night).

I've just been out to the tunnel to check them and they are standing up again. I'm really surprised tbh, they looked a small step away from dead last night.

I read elsewhere that drought can affect the flavour badly, I'm not sure if that means they simply are not as flavoursome or if they are actually nasty to eat.

That's why I was wondering if I should bother trying to continue with them now but I'll keep them going and see what they end up like.

Thanks everyone.

[Alison]

@Alison, this is the first time I've grown it. The plants were about to come out of the tunnel today ironically. I need to keep the tunnel closed at night because it's quite cold here at the moment (it was only 7.5C the other night).

I've just been out to the tunnel to check them and they are standing up again. I'm really surprised tbh, they looked a small step away from dead last night.

I read elsewhere that drought can affect the flavour badly, I'm not sure if that means they simply are not as flavoursome or if they are actually nasty to eat.

That's why I was wondering if I should bother trying to continue with them now but I'll keep them going and see what they end up like.

Thanks everyone.

Ah, I'd assumed you meant that they were planted out in the tunnel borders not just growing to plant on although obviously they'll still need some hardening off if I've understood correctly. Re your location, I was on the site-lite on the ipad when I answered originally and that doesn't tell you where somebody lives (it's a very limited version of the actual site proper) so didn't realise that you were that far north - it's always easy to think that we're all under the same conditions