Celery

Thrives in damp and wet conditions.

Sow celery seeds thinly in trays, modules or pots
with moist compost at 10 degrees. When the young seedlings are long enough to handle, plant
single seedlings into 7.5cm pots. 

Different varieties of celery require slightly different
planting methods for optimal growth:

Trenching celery: dig a 38-50cm wide x 30cm deep trench in
Oct/Nov or March with lots of compost and add 70g per sqm of fertiliser, and plant in line. Once stems are 30cm tall, plants can then be earthed up
(mounding soil around the stems for support at 7.5cm a time until the top’s
exposed) so the stems blanch (cover, excluding light). 

Green and self branching celery: plant 23cm apart, in a block.

Harvest when large enough (between August and October),
cutting at the base with a sharp knife.

Top tips

– Water regularly to never allow plants to dry out.

– Patience is needed -germination takes time.

– Make sure plants are properly acclimatised to outdoor
conditions before planting, as they are easily affected by shock change in weather
conditions!

– Harvest before the first hard frost (trench celery may last
longer).

Key timings