Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: cooperman on April 08, 2008, 23:09

Title: Celery
Post by: cooperman on April 08, 2008, 23:09

what is the best way to start these and grow??

I have started some seed in cells but although given plenty of light and water seem very spindly, they are up to the 2nd leaf stage.....

not having grown these before its alla learning curve!!

Title: Celery
Post by: DD. on April 08, 2008, 23:32

Whereabouts do you have them, if they are indoors, they may need to go somewhere a little cooler.

Whilst I germinate a lot of seed indoors, as soon as they've germinated they go into a cool, but frost free greenhouse, otherwise they will go spindly. (Apart from me toms that is).

Title: Celery
Post by: gobs on April 09, 2008, 09:16

Are they crowded by any chance? Pot them up, one by one or if in larger cells can just thin to one per cell.

Title: Celery
Post by: love-my-plot on April 09, 2008, 09:19

Once ready to go outside, where in rotation, do they go? I've got some potted on and getting hardened off but hadn't originally planned for them ... so not sure where to put them yet.

Title: Celery
Post by: Martin on April 09, 2008, 09:29

RHS says they are Umbellifers so put them with your carrot, parsnip etc.
LINK (http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles1200/crop_rotation.asp)

Title: Celery
Post by: gobs on April 09, 2008, 12:09

Yes, same family, but you best plant them in a block for good blanching of stems.

I find young plants are quite frost tender, I don't plant them out till end May, or whatever at your place the time is for tender summer planting.

Title: Celery
Post by: love-my-plot on April 09, 2008, 12:40

Great, thanks  :)

Title: Celery
Post by: Oliveview on April 09, 2008, 22:03

My pal told me that she grew celery in the UK and she earthed them up like potatoes, is this correct?  
Pamela

Title: Celery
Post by: love-my-plot on April 09, 2008, 22:05

I think it's to blanch them. The variety I have are self blanching so I'm assuming I wont need to earth up.

Title: Celery
Post by: gobs on April 09, 2008, 22:06

Quote from: "oliveview"

My pal told me that she grew celery in the UK and she earthed them up like potatoes, is this correct?  
Pamela

That's a type of celery, trench celery it's called. I think (and hope) we are talking self blanching ones here, but who knows. :roll:

Yes, trench ones need earthing up.

Title: Celery
Post by: shaun on April 09, 2008, 22:16

tried the self blanching one and it wouldnt even break down in a stew,it was tough has hell ,i would grow it in a block

heres mine from last year

(http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o152/shaungill/P9060014.jpg)

Title: Celery
Post by: love-my-plot on April 09, 2008, 22:22

They look great shaun! But I guess you don't reckon they're worth growing again, if they're so tough?

Mine will be mostly be used in soup and will be blitzed down once cooked, so hopefully toughness won't be an issue ..... we'll see  :lol:

Title: Celery
Post by: gobs on April 09, 2008, 22:23

They look jolly gorgeous and it was plenty damp not to have them tough last year, so it's a bit of a mystery. :shock:

Title: Celery
Post by: shaun on April 09, 2008, 22:25

i grew the so called self blanching in a row once a few years back,the ones in the pic were the trench type and they were realy tender.

Title: Celery
Post by: love-my-plot on April 09, 2008, 22:29

So, gobs, is it  when they don't get enough moisture that they get tough?

Title: Celery
Post by: shaun on April 09, 2008, 22:32

its to do with exluding the light thats why you blanch them by earthing them up ,some folks wrap news paper/cardboard around them

Title: Celery
Post by: Trillium on April 09, 2008, 22:36

That and the fact that celery is naturally a bog plant, so they can never have enough water. Anywhere swampy on your plot is where they'll be happiest.

Title: Celery
Post by: shaun on April 09, 2008, 22:44

and plenty of manure dug into the bottom of the trench a couple of weeks before you plant them out  :wink:

Title: Celery
Post by: love-my-plot on April 09, 2008, 23:01

So damp ground & sow in blocks for a bit of shade/dark ... should be easy in this weather

Thanks  :)  :lol:

Title: Celery
Post by: cooperman on April 09, 2008, 23:39

thanks everyone a few interesting tips....  

I dont think I planted the seeds (in cells) deep enough, when repotting do I plant upto the first true leaves?

Title: Celery
Post by: Oliveview on April 10, 2008, 05:35

Well my celery plants should be very happy at the moment- they are sitting in a big puddle!
Pamela