[Rich72]

Morning all. Does anyone have any tips on growing celery? I have tried growing from seed on several occasions. Majority of the time they germinate well then quickly kark it. I did everything it said on the seed packet regarding temp etc. Last year it bought some celery plants but even they commited suicide.

[Totty]

Don't let them get root bound at all, keep slugs at bay at all times and give plenty of water when established.

Totty

[m1ckz]

im doing them from seed too for 1st time    all germinated fine    yet to transplant them in a few weeks

[Rich72]

Totty - they don't get chance to get root bound. They die waaaay before risk of that. 😠😠😠

[Totty]

They die before removing from seed trays or modules?

Maybe too much watering early on. Slugs will ruin a whole tray in no time too. Celery family is one of the slugs favourites!

Totty

[Christine]

My packet says to bring them on in the warm, harden off in May and plant out after chance of frosts. I didn't do at all well bringing them on in the cold last year and got some stringy little efforts.

This year I have some quite healthy seedlings on a sunny but not hot window ledge which are a lot further on than when I planted them out last year. I'm watering very gently and not too often - didn't water too hard once and they all flopped for a few days before drying out a bit and recovering.

Funny what reading the instructions on the packet seems to do for me - which is what I didn't do last year. I must remember that they like a moist and fertile soil with lots of compost when I plant them out.

I'm also told by the "experienced blokes" that they need a long season to get going so you need to start them early. As that came from a couple of old gadgees who run plots that are productive I'll run with their experience.

[Totty]

The fact that they need a long season, is irrelevant to the fact that they are collapsing before they make it past the seed tray stage. Perhaps you could ask some of these experienced plot holders what the problem is instead.

Totty

[Yorkie]

When you say they're dying early, what stage exactly have you reached with them, what's happening, and where are you keeping them?

[gobs]

How good a photo would be! It's rather hard to be clever without knowing much.

One thing about seedlings: they are extremely tiny, it is very easy to drown them.

[Rich72]

They are in my conservatory, south facing. Nice and sunny but it's not too hot. They seem to get to the true leaf stage then die. I lost a full tray last week. I bought some really healthy plants in the garden centre this morning. Last chance celery, perform or else!