Celery is a long-season crop that can be tricky to grow—some might say, the trickiest of all. Here’s how to grow celery in your garden.
Celery likes fertile soil, cool temperatures, and constant moisture. It will not tolerate heat and can be hard to transplant. Summer crops in the north and winter crops in the south make celery a year-round producer. All the hard work is worth it when you finally get to harvest crunchy, green stalks!
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Celery
Very informative - love the veggie but knew nothing about how and where it is grown.
Thank You
Cutting from store bought celery
I cut the end of my store bought celery and put it in water and it now has roots and stalks. Can I plant in a pot on the window sill and cut the stocks and have continuous celery?
Celery
my celery had already gone to seed will that ruin the stocks and when should I harvest the seeds for cooking...
Celery Gone to Seed
Celery that has already gone to seed will be very bitter and tough, and therefore, pretty much inedible. There may be some stalks that haven’t yet flowered, and you could try harvesting these, but it may already be too late for most of the plant.
Wait until the seeds have dried on the plant and are able to fall off at the slightest touch. This is how you’ll know the seeds are fully matured and ready to be harvested.
Celery
We planted 4 celery plants and a bunny ate the leaves! Without leaves, are they okay.. or, are they not good?
bunny mischief
It might depend on how far along the celery is. Are these seedlings, transplants, close to maturity? If they are almost ready to harvest, then it might be OK. If they are young plants, then you might wait a while to see if the plants can recover and grow more leaves–it may delay your harvest a bit, though, and the plants possibly may not be as vigorous. The plants will need leaves to make food for themselves and grow. To protect plants from more hungry bunnies, visit this page for some bunny control options:
http://www.almanac.com/pest/rabbits
Good luck!
Celery like plant
I was given a plant that resembles celery but it doesn't bunch into one. It is perennial. Leaves like celery. What is it?
looks like celery
That’s hard to say without seeing it. It’s not rhubarb? Cardoon? Fennel? Hope this gets you started!
Reply to Looks like Celery
Is it parsley? That's an herb that looks a lot like celery, especially the flat leaf variety.
Chinese Celery
We had "Chinese Celery" in zone 7, perennial; we lost it after 4 years but I don't remember why.
Anyway, it was tougher than regular celery but tasted the same. It was very handy to have celery in the winter garden for cooking soups.
Celery Like Plant
There is a perennial called Lovage that tastes like celery with leaves similar to celery but it gets tall.
Celery like plant
It could be Lovage
yellow leaves
Hi, I'm doing a science experiment using celery seedlings. I was testing how greywater would affect plants. I had all of the seedlings in a sunny area and I gave them 1/2 a cup of soapy water every second day. My control got watered the same amount every second day but with plain water instead. I didn't use any mulch or fertiliser. All of my plants became yellow, including the control, and I'm not sure exactly what could have caused this to happen. Was it that I was giving them too little water or that they had a lack of nutrients, or could it have been something else?
yellowing celery
It’s hard to know, as several things can cause yellow leaves. Fusarium yellows can turn celery leaves yellow, but not sure if it attacks at seedling stage; make sure the soil that you used is sterile. Aster yellows is similar, and is spread by leafhoppers. Check for any pests, such as aphids or leafhoppers. Were your seedlings growing in nutrient rich soil? If not, perhaps it might be that they needed fertilizer. Some nutrient deficiencies can also cause yellow leaves, sometimes affecting either older or younger ones first, or between leaf veins. Make sure that the seedlings have the proper amount of light, and temperature, to make them happy. Check the water amount–curling, yellowing, and drooping limp leaves may indicate overwatering. Wilting or drooping, brittle yellowing leaves, underwatering. Hope this helps!
Can you propogate celery from a root cutting?
Just curious if this is possible? I bought 6 baby plants and I thought how cool if I could turn it into 12 plants.
It's not that I have anything
It's not that I have anything against celery, it's just I've never heard anyone say "this needs more celery"
malini
hey i am trying to grow celery from seeds for the first time . the celery germinate but it not getting bigger or tall so i could transplants them to tray .. what could i do to get the celery growing
celery seedlings
Celery grows slowly. Make sure that the seedlings have plenty of light – such as by a window (if not too cold or drafty), or under fluorescent growing lights (held about 3 inches above) for 16 hours a day (they do need a period of dark, too). Keep them warm, around 70 to 75F in the day and 60 to 65F at night. Make sure the plants are getting the right amount of water. After a while, they should start to grow taller. Good luck!
Salty celery
Hi: I am growing celery for the first time. I sampled a stalk today and it was extremely salty. Is there something wrong with my soil?
Growing celery
Celery does indeed have a mildly salty taste. But extremely salty? Are you growing near salt water?
Celery
For the past few months, I have been buying celery from our local supermarket. Every celery that I have bought has had its sweet center sticks cut off... not the center core stems and leaves though. I complained to the manager and he called the farmer. The farmer said that they have been cutting the sticks off because they were flowering... That makes no sense to me. Surely the flowers come from the center of the core or on different looking stems... not on the sweet inner leaf stems that we usually eat... please confirm.
celery growth habit
I’m sorry, I’m not sure that I understand your question correctly, but I hope that the following information may help:
Celery is a biennial, normally flowering in the second year. Occasionally, though, plants may flower prematurely the first year (bolting), such as if cold temperatures hit at a certain stage in development (transplanting outside too early in the North can sometimes cause this). The stalks that we eat are leaf stalks (petioles). When the plant flowers, a seed (or flower) stalk will develop in the center of these leaf stalks. This seed stalk has smaller leaves on it, and grows taller than the surrounding leaf stalks. The flowers develop at the top of the seed stalk. Stalk celery is harvested before flowering because that stage can make the leaf stalks woody; if a seed stalk appears, it is removed immediately.
Sometimes celery is processed by removing the outer leaf stalks and just leaving the more tender inner leaf stalks – usually sold as celery “hearts.” Certain diseases can attack the inner leaf stalks. There are also several factors that can cause skinny leaf stalks. In addition to stalk celery, there is cutting celery, which produces thinner leaf stalks and more leaves, and has a stronger taste.
Thank you
Thank you so much for your response. I am sure you have answered my question. The supermarket is selling it's celery with large outer leaf stalks as normal which cover the inner leaf stalks. The small inner heart is there, but the sweet leaf stalks around the small inner heart are cut off... I believe that they are being cut off prior to sale used for salads or something else and the customer is being juked. I like those soft inner leaves around the heart of the celery... and I believe that the seed stalk comes from the small inner heart. The supermarket is telling me that the farmer claims that he cut off those leaves around the heart, because they were going to flowers... I don't believe that. Thanks again.
seasons
what seasons are this vegetables in: cucumber, celery, pumpkin, sweet corn, apples, carrots and potatoes?
Red celery
I have been given red celery plants which I have planted in good complost in a very large plastic container in my garden to keep them moist. They are being watered regularly. I have tied the stalks of each to stop them spreading but can someone tell me if I have to mound them up. Being red, they obviously don't need blanching but someone said I have to mound them up which seems strange.
blanching red celery
Blanching helps to prevent bitter celery. The red types sometimes are prone to that, so some gardeners like to mound the soil around them. Some do it just half way, to at least have a little red on the stems. But, blanching is optional.
celery seed purchase
Dear sir,
How do I get celery seed for planting.
I will appreciate your prompt response.
Thanks,
Sanmi.
celery seed
You can often find packets of celery seed in local garden centers, or you can order them from seed companies (via online, phone, or mail order).
Celery
I have 3 celery plants in the garden. What material do I use for mulch?
mulches for celery
You can try organic mulches such as grass clippings (from a lawn not treated with pesticides), compost, or straw (not hay, because of seeds). Or, you can use black plastic, which helps to keep the soil warm, as well as conserve moisture and deter weeds.
Hello, I recently found out
Hello, I recently found out there was something like celery growing in my universities' garden - it smells and looks mostly like celery, except for the stalks: The are not in the typical U-shape but are completely round.
Since there are a lot of weeds growing in that garden too, I was wondering if it is safe to eat or if it is some other, inedible plant!
Could someone help me figuring out what it is? Thanks so much!!
mystery plant
If you are in any doubt about the indentity of a plant, do not eat it. The celery family (Apiaceae, aka Umbelliferae) is large, and contains several edible and poisonous plants. Would someone at the university be able to help ID it?
That being said, I’m not sure if celeriac or Chinese celery have round stems, but you might look into those two celery lookalikes. They may have them at a grocery store.
Could it be young Lovage
Could it be young Lovage plants?
Freezing celery
I will attempt to plant celery for the first time. If I should get an abundance ; I want to freeze. I read you have to blanch first but if I should wrap in plastic wrap and then place in a sealing bag and remove the air, do I still have to blanch first?
freezing celery
You can freeze celery. Once thawed, it won’t be crunchy, but it can be used in soups, casseroles, etc. Blanching (dipped in boiling water for 3 minutes, then in ice water) is not necessary, but it preserves the flavor a bit more, and the produce lasts for about a year. Unblanched, it lasts just a few months. Some sources recommend cutting the celery, placing the pieces in a single layer on parchment paper on a baking sheet and placing the tray in the freezer; once the celery is frozen, take it out and put into plastic bags, labeled with date. Make sure all air is removed from the bag before sealing and storing in freezer.
I am starting a vegetable
I am starting a vegetable garden so as to have harvest monthly and supply 3 supermarkets, all year long. I am planting in Haiti at 4,500' altitude, where it has cool temperature and constant humidity all the time.
red cabbage, celery, bell peppers, coliflower, lettuce romaine.
I just need to know for each vegetable, in approximate days:
1- After germination, how many days to keep in their trays before transplanting ?
2- After how many days, that they will start to produce ?
2- How many days of production-harvest ?
These answers will put me in the right track.
Regards, and thanks in advance,
Philip
Cluster of celery plants in
Cluster of celery plants in outdoor garden box, Southern California/LA area, what to do about earwigs?
Combine equal parts soy sauce
Combine equal parts soy sauce and olive oil, put it in a small plastic container, and secure the lid. Punch holes in the top of the container, near the lid. Make the holes large enough for the earwigs to get in. Bury the container in the soil just up to the holes. The soy sauce will attract the earwigs, and the oil will prevent them from escaping. Change the mixture as needed.
My celery was started from a
My celery was started from a potion of celery which was bought in the produce aisle at the store I rooted the base of the celery and then transplanted into a pot. It's growing beautifully but it is very leafy what can I do to increase stalk growth instead of leafy growth?
It could be that it is just
It could be that it is just at the early stage with leafy growth; initially, the plant will form lots of leaves but no stalk. In a month or two, stalks should develop. If you are growing this indoors, the stalks may be thinner than what you find at the grocery store, but still good. If you are in an area where you can plant celery out, it might be beneficial to plant it outside when temperatures are optimal (after hardening off).
This is just my personal
This is just my personal prefence, but I like the leafy part...chopped, smashed, or smooshed....in recipes over the stalk part. Mainly because the stalk can be stringy...also the aroma and flavor seems to be better the more the "leafy pieces"
I also rooted mine over water
I also rooted mine over water and transplanted them to 5 inch pots. Today, I'm moving them to bigger pots because they are doing so well.
As for the leaves, you can dry them in a microwave (two one-minute cycles should do it). If you crumble them into a powder and store them in a jar, they are great for adding flavor to foods where you don't want the actual celery.
One more thing. Celery will last far longer in the fridge if you completely wrap it in aluminum foil, then put it back in the plastic bag. I usually get at least four weeks.
Answer to Jan Wilkins. I
Answer to Jan Wilkins. I agree about the celery leaf. I much prefer it to the stalks. I also dehydrate the leaves and crush them finely to include in an herbal salt that I make. I will use the stalks in winter soups and anything hot that I am cooking but much prefer the dried leaf for seasoning at the table.
You could try pruning the
You could try pruning the leaves back to train it to grow taller stalks
Hello, this is my 2nd yr
Hello, this is my 2nd yr growing celery, last yr was a continual, repeat seeding disaster, so this yr I started early, but now I have the green celery thumb and have 1 foot tall Giant Red Celery plants growing under shop lights and now, well last mth, they were at the size to plant outside, but this is the 1st of February in Kansas City!!! They are starting to sprawl out, and are getting weaker, you just can't keep them close to the light when they are a foot tall, the top is almost touching the light, but the rest is much further. So, since they have a great root system now, my thoughts were to cut them all to about 1 inch high and have them grow back, it will be time to plant in the garden in about 2 mths I'm hoping they will be much stronger by them. My question is will I kill them if I cut them totally off at 1 inch?
Well, congratulations on this
Well, congratulations on this success! ...Let's hope we can keep it going. It would appear that, while you apparently are doing everything right, in excellent conditions. You probably know that the best time to transfer outdoors is after the last frost. (See our Frosts Dates Calculator for your area http://www.almanac.com/content... It looks like you last spring frost is pbobably April 7).
Research in California suggests that topping off (trimming) the stalks about halfway will not afffect growth. (A study/report from Michigan even suggests clipping them with a mower...but we would not go that far.) Further, they were doing it in 1913, according to one report that describes a topped plant as a "stubby paintbrush."
One other bit of advice from a century ago: prepare your trenches in advance, soak the bottoms if no rain falls, and transplant on a cloudy day. Good luck!
Hi was thinking of growing
Hi was thinking of growing celery this spring..I have a section in my garden that is moister than the other parts of the garden..it get full sun in morning and part sun in afternoon ..would this be a good place to grow celery??
With the cold settling in,
With the cold settling in, this is the time to think about next season's garden.
In answer to your question, moist is one thing, wet is another. If the area is one of standing water or one with slow drainage, celery is not likelly to be successful. While celery likes and needs ("requires" above) water, too wet is not good.
Keep thinking . . .
To harvest do i remove the
To harvest do i remove the whole stalk from the ground or cut it as needed ?
How to harvest the celery,
How to harvest the celery, ?.I am a first time celery grower. I live in the Great Northwest! (Wa. State). I HAVE BEAUTIFUL CELERY GROWING. It is crescent shaped. It is mid Oct. The stalks are not store sized but I am happy for the first crop. Plenty of water even here is a must. My question is how to harvest it & can the root be left in the ground for next year?. May sound dumb, but I am VERY new to gardening.
Thank You,
Heidi
Hi, Heidi, Congratulations on
Hi, Heidi, Congratulations on your celery! Some celery is grown as a biennial, some as an annual. If your plants have stalks of at least 6 inches, they can be harvested. We are not aware of roots growing into anything useful once the edible portion of the plant is removed.
can you freeze celery we grew
can you freeze celery we grew it for the first time this year and we have more then we can use right now
Yes and no. You can freeze
Yes and no. You can freeze but only for later use in cooked dishes (such as soups); celery loses its crispness when frozen. To freeze, select crisp, tender stalks, free from coarse strings. Wash thoroughly, trim and cut stalks into l-inch lengths. Water blanch for 3 minutes. Cool promptly, drain and package leaving no headspace. Seal and freeze.
why is celery so green, and
why is celery so green, and many times
it is bitter? What causes this? I love good light green celery.
My father had it in the garden. He would cover the stalks with straw and then
shovel dirt against the straw.
This allowed the celery to "ripen"
more and make it tender.
Celery gets bitter from lack
Celery gets bitter from lack of water/drought and high temperatures or being harvested in dry, hot weather. It's very important for celery to have a constant level of available moisture. I hope this helps!
tubular stalks sound like
tubular stalks sound like plants are bolting to a seed head probably caused by letting plants get to dry
I was reading this other post
I was reading this other post but didn't see the answer. All my celery is tube shape. Two feet tall growing like crazy, I have so much of it, I cut the stalks and tied the rest up. But can we eat this?
Celery can be challenging to
Celery can be challenging to grow. Hollow celery is often due to lack of water, dry spells, age, or lack of nutrients. You can still eat it--or add to stews and soups. If you bought transplants instead of growing from seed, the issues may have happened at this stage; you can always try growing from seed.
can you eat the celery seed
can you eat the celery seed if they are green,like in a soup?
My celery also grew a big
My celery also grew a big tube, with a few stalks around the outside. It was a start of Utah celery. I ate the few outside stalks and pulled up the tubular middle and threw it in my compost. It was weird!! I am in Phoenix but this was planted in February.
When we harvest the celery we
When we harvest the celery we save the leaves and put them in a plastic bag (vacuum) and freeze them. They are great to add to a chicken broth. The flavor is out of this world. You can't get the same results with store bought celery.
The celery leaves are also
The celery leaves are also very good in salads. The bring a lot of flavor to a salad.
I sort and clean my celery
I sort and clean my celery leaves. Then cut them up and put then on a cookie sheet. I turn them from time to time and when they are dry, I crush them, put them in a jar and use them in soups and other things.
I live in NW Mississippi and
I live in NW Mississippi and successfully grew celery for two straight years from the same plant. I mixed the stalks and leaf tops into a number of foods such as tuna salad, pasta, dressing, and soups. I planted it in a composted fertile location that receives only morning sun. The nearby tansy helps keep pests away. Now I can't remembered where I found the bedding plant and have failed to locate any locally. I don't know if it was a heat tolerant variety or even if it was started from seed. Perhaps it was a highjacker from another bedding plant. I also grew, parsley, lettuce, and Swiss Chard successfully in that same bed.
This is our first time
This is our first time growing celery and they are about 18" tall and really only have one main "round" stock with a few other small "limbs" coming out. It looks nothing like the celery stocks we purchase at the store. Meaning it doesn't have that crescent shape to it, it's solid and round. Did we do something wrong?
Hi, Rebecca: Without more
Hi, Rebecca: Without more info, it's tough for Inspector Celery to tell what is going on here. Since you already have this long-season grower once this year, you may be in a climate where you can try again. Make sure your celery gets lots of water and that you follow the seed packet directions exactly. Get a couple of different types. Plant in a couple of different areas if you can -- not much, but enough to test. Most likely you didn't do anything wrong, but perhaps just didn't do everything exactly right. Keep us "posted"! We'll get the peanut butter.
Hi, I wanted to know how long
Hi, I wanted to know how long it takes for celery to grow? It is spring now so do you know how long it takes?
Celery will often taste
Celery will often taste bitter right from the garden. The flavor does improve with refrigeration, sometimes for up to a week. Peeling can help stringiness. Expect a more flavorful celery when you grow it yourself.
I have a celery plant from
I have a celery plant from the local garden center. I was going to transplant into a bigger pot and leave through the winter and see how it goes. Do I have a chance? I live in Spain, Palma de Mallorca, we don't get snow, but it can get down to 10C.
Utah Celery stalks in my
Utah Celery stalks in my garden are growing well but they are tubular. Is there a reason for this condition?
Newsflash...all you posters
Newsflash...all you posters are too talented and ambitious for me but I can say this: juice 60lbs of celery over the course of a month and drink ice cold and say goodbye to stress and nearly all your high bloodpress meds
CELERY JUICE
THIS JUICE HAS A CHEMICAL IN IT CALLED CELERIC.
I HAVE HEARD IT IS A POISON IN HIGH NUF DOSES----------
I have planted Celery for the
I have planted Celery for the first time, and everything was going well. But when I looked at my plants yesterday I saw that the stalks that are growing in the middle are turning black and rotting on the tops. It's only the ones in the middle. everything else looks fine. Can you tell me how to fix this? thanks.
This problem is called
This problem is called Blackheart and associated with soil calcium deficiency. Usually, this happens when there's inconsistent moisture such as a drought and not enough water or rainy times with too much water. There's not a lot you can do at this point except to water consistently and mulch to conserve moisture. To avoid this problem in the future, test your soil and add gypsum or limestone if soil is calcium deficient. Also, you can plant disease-resistant varieties. Your local cooperative extension can provide a soil test.
Incorporate eggshells into
Incorporate eggshells into the soil regularly.
I live in south mississippi
I live in south mississippi can I grow celery here
I would think it might be
I would think it might be challenging in Mississippi. Celery needs a long time to grow in mostly cool weather—usually up to 130 to 140 days. Celery enjoys cool nights around 50 degrees F and moderate daytime temps of about 60 to 70 degrees. In Mississippi, perhaps you would want to plant in late fall for harvest during mid-winter. Also, you could start the seeds indoors 10 to 12 weeks (2-1/2 to 3 months) before your last frost so the plants do not need that much time out in the garden. There are varieties that mature quicker and can take the summer heat. See Johnny's Seed link below for a variety which is 80 days to maturity: http://www.johnnyseeds.com/p-7...
Not true . . . I live in the
Not true . . . I live in the Northeast, don't plant outside until mid-May and by August I have the best celery you can imagine and I have been growing it for years.
I live in the northwest. 40°
I live in the northwest. 40° north lat.
What is tour trick? Ours are skinny. Avg temp 54-72 on the coast. Not enough water? Not enough sun?
You can also grow it indoors.
You can also grow it indoors. I was surprised to hear this! Here is a link on how you can, it actually works, I've done it. http://www.17apart.com/2012/02...
Hi... As the celery is
Hi... As the celery is growing, can you use the above stock leaves, as the plant is growing ?
Thank you.
Yes, you can eat celery
Yes, you can eat celery leaves--usually, people use them in soups and salds. The leaves have a slight bitter taste so they're often used as a garnish for a sharper taste. Sometimes they are substituted for parsley.
i would like ask., how do i
i would like ask., how do i apply in terms of pesticide to celery about 1 month old and above.thank you.
As pesticide usage is
As pesticide usage is different everyone, we advise you to call your county extension agent for the latest recommendations. It's important to know which pests need to be controlled. Pests of celery include aphids, leafhoppers, carrot weevils, flea beetles, leafminers, armyworms and loopers. For aphids, just use insecticidal soaps. It is most important to control leafhoppers, a common carrier of viruses. Use floating row covers early in the season, too, and collars if cutworms are present.
Michael, I grow celery every
Michael, I grow celery every year in my green house all summer and throughout winter, then outside during summer. In the greenhouse aphid and white flies are bad without treatment. I started using Bonide Eight and Pyretherine by Bonide. This has done excellent in controlling both. With most Bonide products, you can harvest the next day. Regimen is spraying twice a week.
I have tried three
I have tried three consecutive celery plants from the base of a bunch bought at the store. They start off growing beautifully - they get tall and leafy and pretty, and then within a week after potting them (indoors), they suddenly just start falling over limp and then basically rot free from the base. What am I doing wrong? Thank you!
We've learned that celery
We've learned that celery plants from the grocery store will not *usually" grow into a healthy, productive plant. What happens is just what you describe: Some small stalks sprout from the nutrient reserves in the basal tissues, and then the experiment comes to an end because the mother crown starts to rot. It's best to grow celery from seed as this is most natural, even though it takes a while.
Just wanted to respond. I
Just wanted to respond. I grew a celery plant from the root left from a grocery purchase. I left it in a little water until the roots started then planted it outdoors. It grew well and I harvested some of the stalks but being a lazy gardener, left it in the ground over the winter. It sprouted 4 plants off the original and grew fine. I am wondering if I can divide it and replant and then do it all over again this winter. The stalks on the new plants are about 10 inches tall and 1 cm thick. I have harvested off the new plants lightly.
Like you I tried rooting
Like you I tried rooting store bought bunches with little success. This year however, instead of potting I planted the rooted base directly in my kitchen greens bed. The first grew all summer, second from mid summer, and a third has set well. I never got market stalks, but great soup and salad. Plants were still good yesterday.
I re-grow all of my celery
I re-grow all of my celery this way, from the cut bottom of a mature cluster. I have found these things to solve any problems getting them to grow well:
1. First, I barely shave the base, where the roots will emerge, to give it a fresh "raw" surface...
2. I suspend it in a clear jar of water, not fully submerged but just with the tough base in the water, with a few toothpicks much the way you sprout an avocado pit...
3. I keep it in a sunny window, making sure to keep the water level up so it never "hangs in the air" or it can dry out...
4. I never ever change the water, even when it starts getting a little cloudy. Just keep adding water as needed.
5. The little guy will start growing up from the center and turning a lovely bright green...don't be fooled, it is NOT ready for dirt until it has a good bunch of roots about an inch long. Patience, Grasshoppah...
6. When I see all those roots, I usually have several tiny leafy stalks starting. Gently place it in soft soil in a four inch pot,just deep enough to cover that tough base.
7. I keep mine potted in a sunny spot, but not where it bakes in the sun. They love to be moist so water often, but make sure drainage is good so they don't get muddy...
8. Transfer to a larger pot when they get about 8" tall.
That's it. I use the leaves all the time as the plant grows, they don't seem to mind having their leaves snipped. Just watch the plant, it will tell you if you're cutting too much on a small plant...slowed growth or wilting is it's cry of, "Hey, can I please have a chance to just re-grow for a while?".
I do this with every clump of celery I grow or buy...though I don't HAVE to buy it very often anymore, when I get a great deal at the market I consider it a great three-for-one deal. ;)
Good luck and happy celery growing! :)
I am a first-time celery
I am a first-time celery planter and after following my mother's advice, I have thriving celery plants.
Questions though: 1) Do I have to use mulch in my vegetable garden to keep them moist or would frequent watering during dry times be enough?
2) I used Miracle Grow in my water while watering the garden during the first two weeks after planting. Should I continue to mix Miracle Grow in the water?
3) Are elastics safe to use for keeping celery stalks together in the garden?
Thank you!
Lyndsay
Celery needs lots of water
Celery needs lots of water during the hot summer months. Mulch will help keep the moisture in the soil. Celery is a heavy feeder and needs fertilizer. You can also add some compost to the soil. Elastics or rubber bands are ok to use if they are not too tight.
So if I have the second
So if I have the second season seed stalks, do I need to do anything to them, or just let them grow and wait for next season to produce edible celery?
In response to your first
In response to your first question ("Do I need to do anything"), you need to give them the care they need AS they grow, such as frequent irrigation--but not excessive water that might cause the roots to slow growth. And fertile muck or soil with high organic matter.
Our sources suggest that you can harvest these second-year stalks about 90 days after transplanting.
Good luck—most sources indicate that this is a challenge to grow.
Is it a perennial or should
Is it a perennial or should it be replanted each season? Our second year produced nice stalks but the texture was woody - had a good taste but not very palatable.
Celery is a "biennial." It
Celery is a "biennial." It produces edible stalks in its first year and seed stalks during the second year. It has a fairly long growing season and gets harvested about 90 days after transplanting, but if the plant were left to grow for the second year and were exposed to low temperatures, it would produce a longer stem and a seed head.
I planted celery this year in
I planted celery this year in my little garden for the first time. One plant is going to seed while the others are not and I was wondering why. Now I know. Thank you.
Thank you for this comment. I
Thank you for this comment. I grew a celery stalk from a store bought one last year and left it out all winter. We had a very cold winter and it stayed green all winter. This year is is full of seeds. Very bushy and pretty in my flower garden.I will let it continue to grow, and harvest the seeds and see what happens next year.
celery
Thanks..enjoyed reading up on celery as I am going to plant it for the first time this season :)
delicous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I type I buy is almost sweet tasting.
I usually eat the stalks raw but every once in awhile steam them and then add a bit of grapeseed oil........just wonderful
seeds wont sprout
I have planted about 12 peatmoss pods with celery over a month ago and the temp is at 68 and not one has even sprouted. What am I doing wrong?
celery
You are not necessarily doing anything wrong; celery is not an easy crop to grow. You do not indicate where you are, but a temp of 68°F seems a little high, based on our sources. You also do not mention your soil conditions; celery likes lots of organic matter, which means good compost. Peat holds moisture but also brings a certain amount of acidity, which could be too much for celery, which prefers soil of neutral pH. You might consult your local extension service for specific advice for your area. We hope this helps.
growing celery and other cool weather plants
I would love to grow celery and collard greens, kale and rhubarb. But all these plants don't toleerate heat and drought well, both which we will have more of with global warming. Those climate change deniers must not be gardeners.
I am an avid gardener in an
I am an avid gardener in an area where we have heat waves and then cool weather. I have successfully grown kale, celery, broccoli, and other plants that "don't tolerate heat and drought well". I also believe global warming is a farse. There goes your theory.
Belief isn't science, and the
Belief isn't science, and the science is solid on global warming.
The "farse" is that our school systems are so utterly bereft of education thanks to believers rather than the reality-based that nobody knows how to distinguish science from fiction anymore.
Which is just how the deluded like it.
Hole in your ozone?
Hole in your ozone?
I'm with you on the global
I'm with you on the global warming lies Farmer Jan.
as a child my mom says she
as a child my mom says she recalls her mom wrapping the celery with newspaper! Is this a good idea?
celery and newspaper
Some people prefer to blanch celery because it makes it taste milder. It also turns the stalks a paler green to white, but makes them less nutritious.
To blanch, you can wrap the stalks with newspaper when the plant is about 11 to 18 inches tall, or about 10 to 20 days before harvest. Allow about 6 or so inches of the leaves to pop out of the top of the newspaper. Tie the newspaper with twine to secure it, and cover the bottom edge with black plastic and then cover with soil. (Direct contact of soil on the stalks may cause them to rot.)
Other gardeners use boards or other materials to block the light from the stalks.
Nowadays, there are self-blanching types of celery. These usually have more leaves, which, if the plants are planted in blocks, are enough to block out light to the stalks for a milder taste.
Older varieties, that offer more intense flavor, might require some form of blanching, such as the above or trenching, to reduce the bitterness.
I wrap the top 6-8" of mine
I wrap the top 6-8" of mine with a doubled over sheet of newsprint and tie it off with a piece of twine. This is called "blanching" the celery, and it works beautifully. I like newsprint best of all because it is compostable.
Celery seeds
Where can I purchase celery seeds?
Try talking with someone at a
Try talking with someone at a nearby local coop or gardening center. They should have what you need to get started!
try stems
If you want to you can also buy store bought celery, cut the stalks just above the white base, then take the base and soak it in water in a sunny window. You will see shoots within a week.
try stems
What do you do after the stalk grows? Can you plant it ?
try stems
yep, just plant it after it start showing some roots. I have onbe in my garden coming along nicely, planted it in January, just to see what it would do, It's just loving it out there.
I have 'started' three plants
I have 'started' three plants of celery using the stub of previous stalks. Read an article that said this is possible. They're currently planted in a planter outside (not directly in the ground), and thus far are doing great! It didn't cost me anything to try, and I'm having fun watching them grow. They're about 4 inches high right now, so figure maybe harvestable in another couple months? Thanks for all the growing advice, now if I can just remember it all. :-)
You can find any kinds of
You can find any kinds of seeds at your nearest Walmart. I got mine from where my husband works.
About 15 years ago, I grew
About 15 years ago, I grew Golden Self-Blanching celery for the first time; I grew it in 4 or 5 gallon buckets with lots of compost and drip irrigation and I considered it a success.
This year I decided to try growing celery again. I bought the same Golden Self-Blanching from Victory Seeds; they have about 5 different celery varieties. You get about 225 seeds! I also bought some other celery seeds in smaller quantities (Tendercrisp & Utah 52-70) and am starting seeds of all 3 now (Buffalo, NY)