I bought celery plants today

I went to the greenhouse to buy a few herbs and bell peppers and came home with celery plants too! This are the self-blanching type, called Celery Gold. That's all the info on the plant marker. They look really healthy, but need to go in the ground tomorrow, because I can tell they are about to burst the six-pack they're in.

Those of you who have grown celery, how many per square did you plant (or are you planting)? On the SFG website, it says 4 per square, but I think it was boffer?? who said he planted them two per square. How did they do for you? Since I have 12 plants and room, I may try both, just to see what happens.

Also, if you've grown celery, did you build a high-rise for them to build up the soil as they grew? From what I've found online about this type is they recommend building up the soil as they grow to aid in the blanching. Which makes me wonder why this type are called self-blanching!

pattipan

I'm jealous! I tried to start celery with no luck. They looked like a parsley seedling. I would love to find some at a greenhouse.

Apparently the spell check doesn't check the subject/title box.

Anyway...I ran outside and brought the plants in so I could take a picture of them. Mmmmm my hands smell like celery now.



Can't wait to try growing them. Just one of the new things I am trying this year! According to my WV Garden calendar tomorrow is the recommended planting date -- accidental good timing on my part!

pattipan

OH! Now you're just rubbing it in!!

I guess we will have to learn together, Pattipan. I just up-potted my celery seedlings yesterday, after starting them in vermiculite. (they germinated too long ago, and I just never got around to transplanting to seedling cells)

I read that you can harvest from the outside row of ribs, similar to leaf lettuce, but I guess you have to cut with a knife. Have you heard that too or am I just misremembering?

Aub wrote:OH! Now you're just rubbing it in!!

Sorry, Aub! I didn't see your reply until after I posted my picture. I hadn't refreshed the page yet.

I live in a one-stop light town, but we have the best greenhouse! Actual, it's the owners that are great. They now keep vermiculite in stock and at least three types of compost. He told my hubby and I that it was because of our SFG. Everyone that goes through the bank drive-thru sees it. Complete strangers stop by and ask about it and we love talking about it!

pattipan

Celery is a slow-grower, too.

I am trying it this year for the first time. I started my seed back in late Feb and transplanted in mid-March. It's growing, but it's slow. I must admit, though, it looks good and healthy.

I haven't done any mounding...didn't ever read to. And, I only have one in a square. I could easily get away with two...maybe four, but that seems to be pushing the envelope a bit. Maybe three? In a triangle?

I can't wait to harvest it. But, I think I'm another month away.

Those look like exceptionally nice celery plants. Mine are usually a lot smaller weather I start or buy them. I have grown celery for several years and harvest a few stalks at a time from the outside selecting the biggest ones. Some suggest mounding around the plants or a shield of some kind to blanch them. I have not done that so mine is darker green and possibly a bit stronger flavor probably from more chlorophyl. Anyone who has tried mine likes the stronger celery flavor and it does add more flavor to whatever it is cooked in. Later in the summer it may look a bit worse from the heat then possibly shading mite eliminate that but by season end it is usually better looking. Possibly 3 or 4 plants in a square would make them self blanching but if given space they will widen out like parsley does. This is my first SFG season so to be on the safe side I am growing most stuff both ways but at 70 I need to start cutting back from my former huge garden. It is a great addition to many dishes or salads and I can just walk out and get it totally fresh in just a minute even while cooking a meal. Growing celery also develops patience doubly so if you start it from seed. Celery is very much appreciated in my garden.

westie42 wrote:Those look like exceptionally nice celery plants. Mine are usually a lot smaller weather I start or buy them. I have grown celery for several years and harvest a few stalks at a time from the outside selecting the biggest ones. Some suggest mounding around the plants or a shield of some kind to blanch them. I have not done that so mine is darker green and possibly a bit stronger flavor probably from more chlorophyl. Anyone who has tried mine likes the stronger celery flavor and it does add more flavor to whatever it is cooked in. Later in the summer it may look a bit worse from the heat then possibly shading mite eliminate that but by season end it is usually better looking. Possibly 3 or 4 plants in a square would make them self blanching but if given space they will widen out like parsley does. This is my first SFG season so to be on the safe side I am growing most stuff both ways but at 70 I need to start cutting back from my former huge garden. It is a great addition to many dishes or salads and I can just walk out and get it totally fresh in just a minute even while cooking a meal. Growing celery also develops patience doubly so if you start it from seed. Celery is very much appreciated in my garden.

Thanks for the info, westie42! It's good to hear from folks who have grown it with success. I've been reading up on growing celery since my first post. Most folks don't worry about growing blanched celery...and some folks get very creative -- like coffee can or milk jug rings to surround the plants. I'll probably try surrounding a few of the plants just out of pure curiosity and then I'll decide if it's worth it.

I think I'll try some of the celery 4 per square and some with less. I have one box that gets shaded by late afternoon, I'm going to plant most of it there. And perhaps some in squares where other plants will offer shade. That's one of things I love about SFG'ing, I don't have to plant in rows! If I have an empty square, I can plant what ever works for me.

Thanx again!
pattipan

You are very welcome ! I usually grow a couple packs of 4 or 6 whatever a pack is or whatever I start and don't give away. It is a bit temperamental to start. For me repotting deeper when they get second leaves is a setback but makes stronger plants in the end. The vermiculite starting method looks promising for celery. Your idea of diversity in planting schemes and locations is good though I have never had a particular pest problem with celery. Besides cooking it into scads of dishes and salads I use it in fresh vegetable juice, can my V8 juice, chili, spaghetti sauce and frozen stuffed peppers using it from just a few plants. Ma especially likes it in her tuna salad. Now I suppose realistically 8-10 plants would best cover all that use. My plants seem to regrow stalks fast enough to pace out my putting it up projects. Possibly SFG will help speed along that kind of growth.

Since this is my first year growing celery, I really appreciate your comments on your experience with it.

Westie

Wow Westie...that was awesome!

How soon do you start form seed in relation to frost date? It seems to be like broccoli or cauliflower in that you can/need to get a head start indoors early.

It sounds like you get almost a full season from the one or two squares? If you just keep harvesting the outer "branches," does that keep the plant regenerating again and again? If so, I need to get a couple branches now and taste test them...lol.

Any other tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Hi,

I'm a relatively new SFG-er but I did put in celery last spring. One plant in one square. It multiplied! Now there are three in that one square. We've been harvesting celery off of that plant all year, just cutting off the largest and most outer stalks.

I did not plan to blanch. When the weather gets hot, it seems the celery may get more bitter? It was not as mild as the celery from the store, but we've been using it for tuna salad and soups all year. I love the brighter green and the stronger flavor. I didn't serve it plain with dip, though, nor would I.

I loved having it so much, I planted a little 4-square row, one per square.

Hope that helps someone!

BBG, I dont recall what the seed packages said but I think about 12 weeks before last frost is what I do but we may not have as long a growing season either. Because it germinates slow and definitely is slow to develop into decent size for setting out I just start it way early. Possibly my repotting at second set of leaves and setting it deeper is part of the reason it is slow. I use grow lights on nearly all my seedlings which helps. All that makes me think your vermiculite starting method would be especially good for celery.

I planted my celery yesterday. I put four per square in two squares in my "by the backdoor box" and 2 per square in another box. If they grow crazy and get out of hand...I'll eat them!

The roots were really matted, when I removed one they all came out of the 6-pack. I separated them and spread the roots out as I planted them.

I'm excited now to see how it does!

pattipan