[Gardener and Rabbit]

celery - far too much faffing about and I don't like the taste very much - apart from in casseroles 

For everyone struggling to grow celery, it might be worth trying lovage as a much easier alternative. It grows easily. I grew mine from seed and keep it in a tub so it doesn't get too big, it's perennial, flowers each year, and we use the leaves for flavour in casseroles. It's a celery-like flavour, and I seem to recall seeing it as an ingredient in bought stock-cubes.

[surbie100]

celery - far too much faffing about and I don't like the taste very much - apart from in casseroles 

For everyone struggling to grow celery, it might be worth trying lovage as a much easier alternative. It grows easily. I grew mine from seed and keep it in a tub so it doesn't get too big, it's perennial, flowers each year, and we use the leaves for flavour in casseroles. It's a celery-like flavour, and I seem to recall seeing it as an ingredient in bought stock-cubes.

Thanks, I'll try that. Picked up some lovage in the 50p sale. Good to know there's a back-up for when my celery fails next year.

[ptarmigan]

I've got some lovage - it's not in a container and is about 2 foot wide and 5 foot tall.  And I'll be damned if I can find a use for it beyond sometimes really sparingly using it as a herb in cooking. I find it a really strong taste - far stronger than celery. Not unpleasant - but easy to be overpowering.

[surbie100]

I've got some lovage - it's not in a container and is about 2 foot wide and 5 foot tall.  And I'll be damned if I can find a use for it beyond sometimes really sparingly using it as a herb in cooking. I find it a really strong taste - far stronger than celery. Not unpleasant - but easy to be overpowering.

     Good to know!

[8doubles]

I've got some lovage - it's not in a container and is about 2 foot wide and 5 foot tall.  And I'll be damned if I can find a use for it beyond sometimes really sparingly using it as a herb in cooking. I find it a really strong taste - far stronger than celery. Not unpleasant - but easy to be overpowering.

My total knowledge of uses for lovage is the cordial you mix with brandy !

Got to be worth a try !

 

[ptarmigan]

OOh just googled - thank you.  Lovage cordial and brandy...never heard of it before.

[JaniceB]

I don't think I will be bothering with garlic again. I get teeny bulbs and rust-ridden leaves on top. My farm shop sells fantastic big bulbs and I might try one last time and plant the cloves from one of those.

For all those despairing about celery, I can recommend 'Tango' for lovely green, crunchy stems - I was so proud of mine as they were just like super market ones! My first attempt was with Lathom Self Blanching which was dingy and stringy but OK pulverised for stews.

I put 16 plants in a 1m x 1m raised bed, keep it well watered and they take care of themselves. Here's last some of last year's (I had to donate a box to the pub!):

[Steveharford]

Well done on the celery JB. But dont give up on the garlic. It really is very simple to grow. Just get the ground conditions right before planting and it looks after itself more or less. If you can grow celery like that you can grow garlic.

[Pimento]

Courgettes, cos they're so BORING.

[rowan57]

what not to grow in your opinion

After 9 pages? Just about everything I'm guessing 

[MickyB]

what not to grow in your opinion

After 9 pages? Just about everything I'm guessing 

Still OK for Opium poppies, tobacco and Cannabis though.  (Joke!!)

[Madame Cholet]

Lovage in the perennial area great idea thanks

[Mrs Bee]

Well done on the celery JB. But dont give up on the garlic. It really is very simple to grow. Just get the ground conditions right before planting and it looks after itself more or less. If you can grow celery like that you can grow garlic.

Na. Giving up on garlic. Tried for the past couple of years and it was tiddly and not worth bothering with.
Was quite sad as my son bought me the garlic bulbs from the garlic festival on the isle of Wight  and they were rubbish.

Can get a sack full of big fat ones for a fiver at the market.