Best Newcomer

I like to keep myself on my toes on the allotment by having a go at growing new things each year. This year's newcomer is celery.

I planted the seeds in a heated propagator in February and finally the seedlings are nearly ready to go outside. Apparently they are really sensitive to any drops in temperature and will bolt if it gets to cold so that's why I've let it so long to move them into the big wide world.

I am growing a self blanching celery that means, unlike more traditional varieties, they do not need to be grown in trenches or be earthed up. I've got my fingers crossed that they transplant successfully because, if I manage to grow them, I'll be able to make my favourite Minestrone Soup with all home grown ingredients. Without proscuitto of course in our house of vegetarians!

Has anyone else tried growing celery? Any suggestions for success?

Comments

[Liz]

Thanks for the ideas everyone. I have now planted the celery out (in amongst my squash as you suggested Joshua). It seems to be doing well - the big challenge now is to stop the rabbits from eating it!

[Dan]

Your celery starts look great. I just started a few red celery that I am going to grow as a fall crop. They certainly need a big head start.

[Joshua]

One gardener that I have talked to said to grow celery plants with squash plants (even self blanching varieties, the story below involved a self blanching variety.)
One year he planted some celery in between his squash rows and of course the squash took over the whole area. He thought that the celery was gone and forgot about them, but one day while he was in the garden he discovered all of his celery plants he had planted. They were huge and perfectly blanched.
He now grows all of his celery in between his rows of squash.
www.lifeseedco.blogspot.com

[Jo]

Your celery looks like it's doing really well. I've never tried to grow celery, but I'm the only one in our house who will eat it and even I'm not that keen. Hope it transplants ok for you.

[Themoderngardener]

Hi there Liz. We are growing 30 celery this year too, self-blanching, and they are growing super well. From what I have read and what Alan Titchmarsh says, apparently they are a nightmare! But for us, like you, so far so good. We have found that it helps to tie them up as the lower leaves get yellow if they sit on the ground. Ours are very green and so I'm considering wrapping them in newspaper when they get a bit bigger to help blanch them further, although then you can't take any critters out so still haven't decided.