[viettaclark]

I've sown celery for the first time and wondered if germination takes a while?
It's on a windowsill in a room set at 20....

[Salmo]

Germination is slow and the seedlings are so tiny that you can miss them at first.

After waiting an age on my window sill I stuck mine in the bottom of the airing cupboard for 24 hours which seemed to do the trick.

This is my experience. I accept no responsibility for what happens to your seeds.

[iggyboy60]

I think I will try that one Salmo. It sounds as good an idea as any to get celery going. I promise not to hold you responsible should this go pear shaped

[Alec_Macpherson]

I'm planning to give celery a go for the first time this year, although I don't hold out for superduper results in the North.

[missycat]

planted mine 13/3 and seed trays on North facing windowsill of conservatory (directly over radiator) Nothing happened for 10 days so I covered the trays with clingfilm and (possibly coincidentally the seedlings started to appear 3 days later. Now have dozens of tiny seedlings...it's my first attempt at celery too, self-blanching variety, so a bit of an experiment.

[viettaclark]

Yes...mine's self-blanching too as it's my first time!
Noticed today that the seeds have germinated. Not too bad when I planted uncovered in the livingroom on 23rd March!
I've just got one of those mini-greenhouse things (plastic wrapped shelving) and wondered when celery can go outside?
Does it take a bit of cold?

[Salmo]

Any frost will kill it.

[Rangerkris]

I got some in the greenhouse first time i have grown it for me too.  They are very tiny plants hard to handle too.

[nipper31]

First time growing celery for me too. Mine have all germinated but they are really tiny seedlings...
Not really  sure what to do with them next coz they're too small to handle at the minute 

[Salmo]

When they are large enough to handle prick them out into modules. Do not put them out until all frost is finished. It does not matter if the plants get a bit leggy or untidy as once you have planted them out they will sort themselves out.

Prepare a bed with lots of organic matter. You can plant them in a row but they blanch much better if grown on the square about 9 inches apart. No need for paper tubes or anything like that. When they are ready to heart up they will do so.

You can pull leaves from the outside for soups earlier but you will not get proper hearts to cut until  August. The middle stems are tender but there are always a lot of outside leaves which can be used for flavouring/soup etc. They must all be eaten by the end of September as the first frosts will cut them down.

Celery is a marshland plant and should be kept damp at all times. The secret is to water every day, even if they don't need it.

[viettaclark]

Thanks Salmo!

[Salmo]

How is your celery progressing. At last mine has got big enough to prick out.

[viettaclark]

Yup! Got the first leaves so better get on with pricking out soon!