{"id":2442,"date":"2019-06-10T03:26:53","date_gmt":"2019-06-10T03:26:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gardener.guide\/?p=2442"},"modified":"2020-01-22T09:23:20","modified_gmt":"2020-01-22T09:23:20","slug":"15-hints-on-growing-celery-in-your-garden","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gardener.guide\/15-hints-on-growing-celery-in-your-garden\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Hints on Growing Celery in Your Garden"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Celery is a great snack and also a vegetable that can be used in a variety of different recipes including roasts, soups, casseroles, shakes, and salsas. You can even spread peanut butter on it and eat it raw. It\u2019s packed with nutrients and is a great snack if you are trying to eat healthily and lose weight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can buy celery at most grocery stores, but you can also easily grow it at home. In fact, you can grow your own celery over and over again from one plant. You can also grow it from seeds or starters. No matter how you choose to grow the celery, there are certain things you will need to do to ensure it grows properly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are eight hints that can help you grow strong and healthy plants all through the growing season without any problems. Who knew growing celery could be so much fun?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Prepare Your Seeds Early<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It takes celery a long time to mature and grow, so it\u2019s a good idea to start your seeds early if you plan on harvesting the celery on time. If you live in a location that has a long growing time, you may not have to worry about this, but most people are limited in time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before you start your seeds, check the frost schedule in your area to find out when it is safe to plant the celery outside. You should start your celery eight to twelve weeks from the last frost date. Keep in mind that there is always a chance that the frost date will be slightly off, so you may need to keep your celery inside a little longer than you plan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plants can go well inside with the right conditions. Once the temperature outside if it is consistently warm and the threat of frost is gone, you can move the plants to your garden or in pots outdoors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Plant At The Right Time<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You have to be aware of the temperature outside when planning celery. It won\u2019t tolerate cold temperatures, but it also can\u2019t stand extremely hot ones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You need to make sure the temperature outside is not too cold when you plant the celery, or it will die quickly. It can also become shocked and stunted, which means it won\u2019t grow as plump and healthy and won\u2019t taste as good as it could. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can plant your celery in pots and then move them inside if you feel like the temperature outside may drop at night or if you are expecting it to frost. You can also grow them in your basement or home, but they do need to be near a window so they can get the proper heat and sunlight as needed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Celery is a little tricky to grow, but with the right conditions, it can be successful, and you can have plenty of celery for all your recipes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Choose The Right Location<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Celery is sensitive to temperature, so you have to be careful about where and how you plant it. It can\u2019t be planted until the temperature outside consistently remains above 50 degrees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If it is still frosting outside, you shouldn\u2019t plant it as the frost can easily kill the plants or at the very least, severely weaken them. You should plant the celery in a location where it gets at least six hours of full sunlight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You should also try to make it, so the celery is in the shade during the hottest part of the day. The sun can help the celery grow strong, but it can also be too strong during the hottest parts of the day and burn it too. You may even want to make shades that can be placed on top of the plants to keep them out of the sun if you can\u2019t move them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people prefer to plan their celery in pots so that they can move them around more easily as needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Blanch It<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Blanching is a process that involves making the leaves of the celery plant more tender and soft. Some people prefer to blanch celery because of the texture, but blanching does take away some of the vitamins and nutrients from the celery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people don\u2019t find that blanching is worth it for this reason. Others simply don\u2019t want to take the time to blanch it. To blanch the celery, you build a mound of dirt around the celery and over time continue to build it up around the leaves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the celery grows, the mound builds so that the leaves and stalks stay covered. You can also blanch it by adding cardboard to the base of the plant a few weeks before you harvest it. When it comes time to harvest the celery, it will be tender. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you choose not to blanch the celery as it grows, you can blanch it once you harvest it and before you cook and serve it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Planting Method<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to planting celery, you have a couple of different options. You can grow celery directly from seeds you collect or buy in the store. You can find starter plants at your local garden center. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also grow celery from other celery. If you have recently purchased celery and have already cut off the stalks and used them, you can plant the bottom of the celery directly in the soil, and it will regrow. You can continue to do this over and over again and get unlimited celery. All three methods can be successful and provide you with healthy celery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It comes down to a matter of preference and trial and error. Some people have more like with one planting method than another, and some will use multiple planting methods within the same growing season just to try new things. Choose the one that is best for your garden and experience level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Fertilize Regularly<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A lot of people are nervous about using fertilizer on their plants because they are afraid that it will burn them or make them taste odd. As long as you rinse the vegetables before you eat them, fertilizer won\u2019t negatively affect the taste of the celery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, it can help make your celery grow stronger, bigger, and make it taste better. You should fertilize the celery with an organic emulsion on a weekly basis to help make the plants stronger. Emulsions are easily absorbed and will soak into the roots quickly, so the plants get a quick dose of nutrients. If your soil isn\u2019t right, you can also add some compost on a regular basis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As it breaks down with the fertilizer, they release nutrients into the soil that can then be absorbed by the plants. Organic compost and fertilizers are always the best options for all types of plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Harvest Often<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The great thing about celery is that you can harvest more than once from the same plant. Celery regrows well, and it regrows pretty quickly. That means you can take as much as you want each time. If you want a lot, take a knife and cut it all off you can. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also just cut off one stalk. This is one of the reasons many people enjoy growing celery at home. You can harvest what you need when you need it and don\u2019t have a lot of leftovers to waste. Just keep in mind that you may need to harvest your celery at some point whether you need it or not in order for it to continue to grow properly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you know the plant is towards the end of the growing season and you are ready to harvest the whole plant, you can use a small shovel to remove the plant and use it just like you would celery you buy in the store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Water Often<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Celery needs a lot of water. If you bite into a nice, crispy stalk of celery, the first thing you notice is how watery it is, and that\u2019s a good thing. The water is why celery is so healthy and satisfying. Since celery is so full of water, it takes a lot to grow it properly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It absorbs water quickly and needs to be watered often. If your soil is dry on top, your celery needs to be watered. On the other hand, you can water the plants too much. If the water soaks into the plant’s roots and saturates the soil at all times, it could cause the roots to rot or allow a fungus to grow on the celery plants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You should check the celery daily or create an irrigation system that gives it the perfect amount of water when it needs it. This will save you time and save your plants from drying out or getting root rot<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Celery Pest<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When the springtime starts to show itself, and the ground begins to thaw, your seedlings come to life, but so do thousands of insects. These pesky insects can ruin a crop in a matter of weeks if left uncontrolled. Losing all of your hard work to bugs is a devastating experience, and it\u2019s a preventable occurrence with the right pest management techniques.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carrot rust flies, parsley worms, and nematodes are insects that threaten every celery garden, along with leaf tiers. Leaf tiers present the most significant danger to your crop, as these tiny caterpillars create brown, sunken areas on the celery stems, resulting in premature wilting and skewed growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, you don\u2019t need to use toxic pesticides to keep bugs off of your plants. Planting a row of marigolds around the edge of your garden helps to keep insects away from your crop. Purchase some organic tobacco, soak it in water overnight, and then spray your plants. Insects hate the taste of the juice on the foliage, and you can rinse it off after harvest with no unpleasant taste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Celery Diseases<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Along with the challenge of dealing with pests, you need to inspect your celery crop for signs of disease. Diseases can pop up on your plants overnight, and if left untreated, can cause systemic crop failure that spreads to other areas of the garden. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common diseases associated with growing celery includes both late and early blight, which shows up as tiny spots on the foliage, which slowly develop into large brown spots, killing the tender leaves of the plant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pink rot is another concern for celery growers. This disease presents signs of decay at the base of the celery stem, resulting in discoloration that looks white or off-pink in color. These pathogens can infect the soil around the bottom of the plant, surviving through the winter season to contaminate the following year’s crop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Treat any fungal or bacterial disease with an appropriate organic fungicide available from an online retailer. Add some additional beneficial microbes to the soil to help the celery recover faster.
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11. Identify Soil Deficiencies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Celery gardeners need to pay attention to soil preparation before they plant the first crop of the spring. Tilling and fertilizing the soil is a critical process that requires gardeners to understand the growing medium suitable for their celery crop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visit your local nursery with a soil sample and ask them to analyze it for pH levels and nutrients. The test will show any deficiencies, allowing you to make the necessary adjustments to the mineral profile of your garden to optimize the growth and yield of your plants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Examining your plants once or twice a week is all you need to identify any signs of nutrients deficiencies. Look out for cracked and distorted stems, which could be a sign of boron deficiency, which is common in celery. Add some liquid seaweed extract to water and give the foliage a spray. This technique will keep the leaves looking green and healthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Distorted leaves and cracked stems can indicate a boron-deficient soil. Correct the balance by spraying plants with liquid seaweed extract every two weeks until symptoms disappear.
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12. Growing Celery in a Greenhouse<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Celery requires a minimum of six hours of sunlight a day, and warm conditions to thrive. Therefore, growers living in the Northern States, where sunlight is at a premium during the summer months, should consider growing in a greenhouse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A greenhouse provides the grower with the ability to control the temperature, lighting, and moisture. Therefore, celery crops tend to finish faster and produce a higher yield than plants grown in outdoor gardens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greenhouse growing also allows the gardener to extend the daylight hours by installing a growing light to simulate the sunlight and keep the celery producing stems throughout the winter months. Heated greenhouses allow you to grow crops throughout the year, regardless of the external climate conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, you don’t need to go to the expense of installing additional equipment in your greenhouse. A simple structure will help you plant earlier, extending your growing season by letting you plant succession crops after your first harvest.
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13. Growing Celery In Containers <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you live in a cold climate, such as the Northern States, then get a headstart on the celery growing season by starting your seeds indoors. You’ll need a container to start and some high-quality potting soil. Add a handful of vermiculite to the soil mix to improve drainage and retain moisture in the growing medium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ensure that the pot or container has drainage holes in the bottom to prevent the celery from getting it’s “feet wet,” a condition that results in waterlogging of the roots and rot. Avoid rot by keeping the soil mix light and airy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When starting celery, you don’t have to worry about the stems falling over as the plants are small. However, ensure that you add more soil to the growing medium when transplanting, to ensure the stems have a stable growing medium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Celery won’t take much strain when transplanting. However, ensure that you do it on an overcast day, and water the celery well after transplanting to prevent wilting. 
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14. Build Raised Beds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another strategy to speed up growth in your celery is to use raised beds. Find a loading bay at your local supermarket, and you\u2019re bound to find soil, unused pallets lying around. Take them home, split them up, and use the wood to build the frame for your flowerbed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The raised bed helps to keep the roots off of the ground in the early stages of the spring, keeping them warmer than traditional planting methods. Planting in raised beds also enhances the airflow around the roots, resulting in faster growth, and larger celery stems at harvest time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you live in a colder region of the country, build your raised bed before the start of the winter. Fill it with soil and the necessary fertilizer, then leave it to rest over the winter before tilling in the spring as you start your seeds. The enriched soil will produce healthy celery stems, while allowing you the room to plant a succession crop, allowing you to maximize the growing season.
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15. Store-Bought Vs Organic Celery <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Growing celery in the garden is a tremendously satisfying experience when you sit down to your first salad featuring the produce for your garden. However, may celery gardeners are surprised with the look of their organic celery harvest when compared to store-bought celery.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your celery may be shorter and thinner, with darker green color compared to what you see in the supermarket. The reason for the difference comes in the growing medium. Commercial celery farmers use hydroponic methods to produce crops, resulting in a shorter growing time, and larger yield during harvest. The hydroponic growth of celery and other vegetables involves the use of specialized chemical fertilizers that enhance the growth and production of the veggies to meet surging demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, as an organic gardener planting celery, there is no need to scale production methods, and no need to use chemical fertilizer. The result is sweeter, tastier celery, with a lower harvest yield, and no harmful chemicals.
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