How to grow celery at home?

EFFECTIVE CULTIVATION IN HOME CONDITIONS FROM ROOTS TO GREENS

Greetings, dear friends!

Celery is the tone of the body, beauty and strength. Regular inclusion of leafy greens in the diet, including celery, helps to replenish the lack of vitamins and various nutrients (mineral salts, dietary fiber, chlorophyll, trace elements), which is especially important in the cold season.

Plus, celery is an excellent seasoning that can add exquisite notes to almost any hot dish, be it borsch, pickle or stew. To constantly have this wonderful greenery at hand, it is enough to plant it in your home mini-garden (on the windowsill).

How to grow celery at home

Preparing the soil

The soil should be sufficiently loose, for example, turf with the addition of peat or humus. You can buy a ready-made soil-soil mixture (a universal one is suitable), or better, prepare it yourself. To do this, mix 2 parts of garden soil with one part of humus (peat is possible), add a large spoonful of wood ash for each kilogram of earth and heat the resulting mixture in the oven for an hour (this is necessary in order to get rid of the pathogens present).

Planting material

You can buy root vegetables in a regular store or bring them from a summer cottage (See the article "Growing root celery") They should be more than 5 cm in diameter. Pay special attention to the petioles - they should not be damaged and cut off by more than 3 cm, which gives a guarantee of the safety of the apical buds, which are the basis of future greenery.

Landing

We fill the container intended for the plant (pot, wooden or plastic box) with soil. It is imperative to make a drainage layer of expanded clay, small pebbles or finely broken bricks (about 2 cm). If the planting box is not deep enough for the selected root crops, then the bottom of them should be carefully trimmed.

We plant root crops in abundantly moistened soil with a step of 6-7 cm so that all plants have the opportunity to develop normally. We place the roots in the ground at a slight angle. Fill the soil mixture in layers. The apical buds remain open.

Containers with planted roots should be placed for 10 days in a room with a temperature of + 5 ° C to + 12 ° C, for example, on the balcony or near it. Watering during this period should be moderate, every 2-3 days. In the future, when the apical kidney hatches, the box can be placed in a permanent place - on the windowsill. Celery loves an abundance of light, so choose windows facing south, southeast, and southwest to create a green bed.

Watering and feeding

To prevent the root crop from rotting, the celery should be watered with heated, settled water.It is recommended to feed the plant 2 weeks after planting. To do this, we use liquid ready-made fertilizers (extracts from organic matter), which are diluted with water according to the instructions. In the future, feeding is advised to be carried out after each harvest.

Watering is desirable in the center of each root crop. This gives a good boost to growth, nutrition and development of the root system, and then strong and lush young shoots will appear there. Watering should not be too abundant.

Features of growing celery at home

When growing celery at home, it is recommended to cut the yellowed lower leaves that have not adapted to room conditions (to the end, so that there are no cuttings left).

To prevent root rotting, regularly loosen the soil with a regular fork. You can also dust the topsoil with wood ash once a month.

The air temperature at the place where the celery grows should not exceed 18 ° C. In winter, the plant must be supplemented, since any leafy greens are photophilous. To do this, use lamps (ordinary daylight or special phytolamps), installing them at a distance of 60-65 cm above the shoots.

3-4 weeks after planting celery, you can harvest your first flavorful crop by adding healthy green leaves to the table. When the root system of plants is depleted, then it will be possible to replace them with a new batch.

In order to create a green vegetable garden on the windowsill, it is not at all necessary to have special agrotechnical knowledge. Your desire and following the simplest recommendations of experienced gardeners are quite enough. See you, friends!

They knew about the useful and medicinal properties of celery even in the days of Ancient Egypt and Greece, healers prepared decoctions from its roots and leaves. Later, this spice began to be added to salads and other dishes, which made their taste more intense and savory. So celery gained popularity and began to spread throughout the world, while gourmets appreciated not only its green part, but also the petiole and root.

Many modern housewives know not only about the beneficial properties of this plant, but also how to grow stalked celery from seeds or stumps.

Types and advantages of celery

If earlier stalked celery was grown exclusively for the manufacture of medicinal infusions and preparations, today many gardeners are trying to allocate a piece of land for it in the country. Those people who are truly interested in the opportunity to live without disease and postpone the arrival of old age for an indefinite period, daily eat the stems, herbs or the root of this plant. Those who do not have personal plots are trying to learn how to grow stalked celery from seeds at home.

This is due to the composition of substances and vitamins included in its stem.

A large amount of vitamins PP, B1, B2, K, C, B5 and E provides the human body with a daily requirement, even if you eat a thin stem every day.

It contains trace elements such as zinc (part of insulin), iron (the basis of hemoglobin), phosphorus (involved in biochemical processes), selenium (protects against tumors), magnesium (natural antidepressant) and calcium (part of teeth and bones ).

Glutamic and niacin add even more value to the celery stalk.

It also contains apiol, protein and carotene.

There are 3 types of celery - root, leaf and petiole. Each of them has its own set of useful properties that have a positive effect on the human body. Some are used as a seasoning, others for cooking independent dishes.

Seed selection

Different types of celery not only have different chemical composition, but also differ in taste. Many home gardeners are interested in petiolate celery in terms of useful properties and taste.Growing from seeds of this variety is somewhat troublesome, but its growth period is much longer.

For the plant to grow faster, it is better to choose early maturing species, for example, "Golden", "White feather", "Malachite" or "Junga".

The cultivation of this plant is carried out in 2 stages.

Sowing petiolate celery seeds for seedlings. Seedlings will appear 2 weeks after sowing.

Transplanting sprouts to a permanent place.

There are no difficulties in growing this plant, you just need to be patient, since its ripening period takes from 160 to 180 days.

Seed preparation

In many crops, the seed is pre-disinfected and processed. For beginners, this is also the main point in the question of how to grow stalked celery. The preparation of seeds begins with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, in which they are dipped for 2-3 hours. After that, they can be sown in pre-prepared and moistened soil.

A mixture of equal parts of humus, turf and peat is best for this plant. The soil mixture must be thoroughly mixed, poured into prepared containers, preferably boxes, and well moistened a day before planting.

Landing

An important question for those who decided to plant stalked celery (growing from seeds) is when to plant this plant. The optimal time is the beginning of March, since the seedlings of this culture are quite capricious.

Before sowing, it is necessary to calcine the soil mixture in the oven or hold it for a couple of minutes 30, which will rid it of pathogens and possible pests. It is also advisable to process the prepared container with potassium permanganate.

Some gardeners sow seeds in moist soil, in which small grooves are made. You can not sprinkle them with earth, but simply cover the container with a film and put it in a warm and sunny place. The only requirement at this stage is to constantly spray the soil so that it is moistened all the time.

Many gardeners know how to grow stalked celery from seed in cups.

You need to take plastic disposable cups or make them out of thick paper and fill with potting soil.

Place the containers in the boxes, pressing them tightly against each other.

Moisten the soil and throw a few seeds into each glass, without sprinkling it with earth.

Cover with a dark bag or foil, checking the soil moisture every 2-3 days.

After 10-15 days, thin out the shoots, leaving 2-3 strong shoots in each glass.

To prevent the seedlings from stretching, you should provide them with a lot of light, for which it is enough to put a box with sprouts on the sunny side or add artificial lighting. If stalked celery (grown from seeds) was planted in early March, then at the end of May the seedlings can be planted in separate containers. In regions with short, cool summers, sowing should be done in February and harvesting in August.

Seedling care

Growing stalked celery seedlings from seeds does not create great difficulties, therefore it is suitable even for novice gardeners. Sometimes the shoots of this plant upset them, as they grow extremely slowly.

This is the property of the plant itself - for the first 1.5-2 months they rise slightly, but after this period they stretch out before our eyes. Celery requires a minimum of maintenance.

Until the seeds have sprouted, they should only be sprayed to moisten the soil, as they grow on the surface. If watered differently, the water can wash them away.

The best air temperature is + 18-20 degrees before germination and +15 when they hatch.

Watering should be plentiful in summer and moderate in winter, but water stagnation should not be allowed. Drainage can be used.

Top dressing from liquid organic fertilizers is carried out every 10 days.

If you grow stalked celery at home in winter, you will need additional lighting, which is installed 0.5 m above the seedlings.

Bleaching stems

There are imported varieties of stalked celery, which grows already bleached stems. Experienced gardeners know how to grow stalked celery from seeds of simple varieties and give it excellent taste and presentation.

First, prepare black polyethylene strips 20 cm wide and in accordance with the length of the plant. You can use garbage bags for this.

Secondly, 2 weeks before harvesting, each plant should be wrapped with these ribbons and tied on top with an elastic band or thread so that they do not come loose. At home, you can use paper instead of polyethylene.

Third, do not huddle the celery before harvesting so that the stalks are not saturated with the smell of the earth.

In the event that celery was planted late, its growth can be accelerated with additional stimulants.

Diseases and pests

Even a beginner can figure out how to grow stalked celery from seeds. But although caring for celery does not take long, this plant is moody. For example, if watering is not enough for him, he will "take revenge" with the tasteless middle part of the stem, which becomes absolutely inedible.

Putrid bacteria can get inside the plant, although outwardly this will not manifest itself in any way. It is important to monitor the quality of watering, if it is insufficient, the stalk of the plant will begin to crack. The main pests of celery outdoors are snails and slugs, which enjoy succulent stems. At home, stagnation of water can become a problem, which causes root rot and thus contributes to the appearance of mold and rot.

Harvest storage

After the petioles are cut, it is recommended to eat them immediately. This way they preserve their nutritional and beneficial properties as much as possible. To store this plant, you will need a tight, well-sealable plastic bag in which the petioles can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 to 5 days.

If you use aluminum foil, then this period can be extended to 7-10 days. In the event that the greens near the stem are slightly wilted, experienced chefs recommend putting it in ice water for a couple of hours. This will refresh it, return its rich color and elasticity to the leaves.

Gourmet tips

It is important not only to know how to grow stalked celery from seeds, you need to be able to cook it correctly and tasty. Nowadays, it is very often recommended not only by nutritionists, but also by gourmets, and even doctors.

Juicy and aromatic stems are added to salads, in which it goes well with tomatoes, nuts and leeks. Some chefs even make desserts with it by mixing it with peanut butter.

The concave shape of the stems allows them to be used as a container for snacks and salads. For example, they can be filled with a salad based on chicken or seafood. The aroma of the vegetable will add zest to them. In such "boats" you can serve a curd snack with an egg and chicken, seasoning everything with mayonnaise.

Many housewives prefer to add celery stalks to scrambled eggs or omelet, and even the most demanding gourmet will appreciate these dishes with grated cheese.

For overweight people, nutritionists recommend learning how to grow stalked celery from seeds at home, so that it is at hand on fasting days. It improves metabolism and thus contributes to a gradual and beneficial weight loss, which will not be followed by a new weight gain.

Celery has few calories, it fills the body with useful vitamins and minerals that are so necessary for a person on fasting days or during a diet.

To the rhetorical question of what to eat in order to lose weight, there is a very specific answer - celery! You eat 100 g of celery, calories 19 kcal, the body spends 25 for its processing. Active antioxidants in large quantities cleanse the body cells from damage and remove toxins, prolonging youth.And here is a recipe for a love drink from Tristan and Isolde: 100 g of celery juice, 50 g each of pear and apple. And although celery root, stalk and greens are not uncommon in supermarkets, it is much more useful to grow it yourself.

Soil preparation on site

You will need very fertile soil to get good yields. Celery does not tolerate acidic and poorly drained soil. Deep, humus-rich loams are preferred.

It is advisable to plant celery in beds that have been abundantly fertilized with predecessors (peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers). Poor soil can be improved by adding rotten manure or compost.

For planting leaf and petiole celery, fresh manure can be applied, since a high concentration of nitrogen accelerates the growth of vegetative mass, so to speak, vershoks. To grow the roots, the manure must be thoroughly rotated. The introduction of phosphorus will speed up the ripening period and improve the quality of the plants. Thanks to potash fertilizers, the plant more intensively accumulates sugar and starch, and increases frost resistance.

A little podzimnye liming will fill the need for calcium and magnesium. Fertilization rates per 1 m2: compost (rotten manure) - 6-8 kg, fertilizers: nitrogen - 3-5 g, phosphorus -10 g, potash - 5 g.

Organic matter and phosphorus fertilizers are applied in full in the fall, half of the rest is taken. The rest is used in dressing. The planting site should be open, sunny, not shaded.

Video "Growing"

From the video you will learn how to properly grow celery.

Seed material

Celery is a biennial herb of the umbrella family. Breeding work on new varieties shifted the emphasis from green leaves to other parts of this plant, and as a result we got 3 types of varieties: petiole, leaf and root celery.

The best varieties of leafy celery are:

• The samurai attracts with curly leaves with a corrugated edge. Mid-season with excellent taste;
• Vigor is a mid-season variety with good resistance to low temperatures and drought. The first crop is cut after 70 days.
• The sail is an early ripe, very productive variety, the first harvest is ready in 40-45 days.

Petiole celery is the least popular in our country, but I think that it will not last long. The wonderful taste of crispy sticks conquers everyone who has tried celery stalks.

Varieties of this type are divided into self-bleaching, green (which must be bleached) and intermediate forms. Self-bleaching stems are worse stored than green ones. Here are some interesting varieties of stalked celery:

• Pascal is a medium ripeness variety that needs bleaching;
• Tango is a variety with excellent taste and smooth petioles. The light green color does not need bleaching.

And finally, celery root. For harvesting for the winter, it is necessary to purchase seeds of medium-early, medium and late varieties. Fruits of early varieties are poorly stored.

Consider several popular varieties:

• Apple is a very early ripening variety with round medium-sized tubers. The disadvantage is a large number of lateral roots;
• Cascade is a medium early variety with a small number of low roots;
• The Prague giant is a large-fruited (up to 500 g) variety of medium ripening, the fruits are well stored.

Sowing seeds for seedlings

Celery seeds are very small, contain a large amount of essential oils and therefore germinate for a very long time. The germination rate is low. Therefore, for celery, growing from seeds in the open field is very difficult.

Seedlings begin to sow at the end of February. The seeds may take up to 1 month to germinate, but the process can be accelerated. Consider several options for soaking seeds:

• the seeds are washed in hot water for 10-15 minutes, after which they are slightly dried. The seeds are ready for sowing;
• the seeds are soaked for a day in warm water;
• the seeds, wrapped in a damp cloth, are kept at room temperature for a week, constantly moistening, then placed in the refrigerator away from the freezer for 2 weeks, after which they are planted.

Of the three methods, the last one (it is called stratification) is the most effective.

For seedlings, you will need low boxes filled with a mixture of garden soil, humus and sand. For disinfection, the earth is spilled with boiling water with potassium permanganate 2 days before sowing the seeds.

Before sowing, the soil is moistened again, after about 2 hours, 1 cm deep grooves are made and sowing of seeds begins. If you plan to grow seedlings in the same boxes before planting in the ground, then you need to sow the seeds at a distance of 5 cm from each other.

With the subsequent pick, the sowing can be compacted. Seeds, evenly distributed along the grooves, do not fall asleep, but are slightly pressed (this makes it easier for them to germinate) and watered with a spray bottle.

The drawers are covered with glass or transparent foil and placed in the light. The air temperature in the room should be in the range of 18-240C. After 5-7 days, the seeds will pick up and white roots will appear, in another week cotyledon leaves will appear.

The film can be removed, the seedlings can be watered with water at room temperature using a spray bottle and very carefully loosened, without falling asleep the seedlings.

In February, there is not enough natural light for the seedlings, which is why it can stretch out, therefore it is recommended to supplement it. In addition, lowering the temperature to 16 degrees will help slow down the pulling of seedlings.

The picking of seedlings is carried out after the appearance of the third true leaf. Seedlings with poorly developed roots are discarded. After picking, the seedlings are well watered.

Further care for it consists in regular watering and loosening.

Planting seedlings in the garden

In mid-May, celery seedlings can be transplanted to the garden bed. Plants are placed at a distance of 15-30 cm from each other. For root and petiole varieties, 20 cm between adjacent plants is optimal.

Leaf celery is planted at a distance of 30 cm, being careful not to cover the growing point. It is not recommended to deepen the root celery seedlings in order to prevent the formation of lateral adventitious roots that disfigure the roots.

Choose the right neighbors celery. It is not recommended to plant celery next to corn, potatoes, parsley, carrots. But celery has a mutual help relationship with white cabbage: cabbage stimulates the growth of celery, and celery drives away white butterflies from cabbage. Plus, it goes well with bush beans, tomatoes, spinach, cucumbers, lettuce, and beets.

Care

Caring for celery consists in timely watering, weeding and loosening. Phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are applied twice per season, two weeks after the celery is transplanted to the garden and three weeks later.

Video "Care"

The video shows you how to care for celery.

Agrotechnics of stalk and leaf celery

If you are a lover of fresh herbs and cannot imagine your site without various salads, onions, parsley and dill, then you should pay attention to celery. The specific aroma and spicy taste of celery is not to some people's taste, but its benefits are so great that it is worth including it in your kitchen as a seasoning or side dish.There are many delicious recipes that use leaf and petiole celery on the Internet, it will not cause any problems growing at home and there is no reason to give up such a healthy vegetable crop!

Just how to grow stalked or leafy celery so that you get a harvest with a rich aroma, firm stems, lush foliage and great taste? You just need to take into account the nuances of agricultural technology, which are discussed in this article.

What determines the successful cultivation of celery?

It is recommended to place ridges with celery in sunny places, but it also feels good in a light shade, and its foliage is the most fragrant under these conditions. The most suitable temperature for these varieties of celery is about + 20 ° C.

Celery prefers fertile soils that are loose, drained, but capable of retaining moisture. Neutral acidity of the soil is needed, with acidic soil it is limed.

Celery should not be planted next to parsnips, as both plants have the same pest - the celery fly.

Buying celery seeds:

The choice of a variety should be given special attention. From leaf celery, the proven varieties are: Vigor, Tender, Zakhar, and from petioled ones - Golden, White feather, Malachite.

When buying seeds, pay attention to their shelf life; when storing celery seeds for more than two years, a small percentage remains from germination. If you buy varieties of different ripening periods, then there will be petioles and greens on the table throughout the summer season.

Celery growing methods

As well as for sowing in open ground, you will first need to rinse the seeds, and then soak for three days and grow seedlings from them. Leaf and stem celery are grown immediately in the open field, but in the initial period it rises and grows very slowly, so it is better to spend time and grow seedlings.

Growing celery outdoors

Seeds are usually sown for seedlings in February-March. To do this, use boxes or cups filled with a loose soil mixture of peat, leafy earth, sand and humus (1: 1: 1: 1). The seeds are very small and they need to be evenly distributed over the surface of the substrate and covered with a thin layer of peat. To prevent moisture evaporation, the crops are covered with foil and placed in a warm place (up to +25 degrees). Fresh, pre-soaked seeds germinate in 5-10 days, depending on the temperature. Now the seedlings need to be placed in a bright place with a temperature of up to +15 degrees, this is necessary to prevent the seedlings from pulling out. On the windowsill, to increase the illumination, you can use mirrors by placing them on the sides of the windows and on the side of the seedlings opposite from the window.

Moist soil and sufficient lighting, ventilation are the main conditions for growing good seedlings of leaf and stalked celery.

When real leaves appear in the seedlings, it is advisable to make a pick - to plant each plant in a separate glass, without covering the socket with earth (leaves appear from it).

Celery seedlings are planted in the beds at the end of April - May, when there is no longer a threat of frost, pre-harden the seedlings by exposing them to the street or balcony for several hours a day. When planting in the ground, a 20x30 centimeters scheme is used.

Growing according to the rules of stalk and leaf celery

For petiolate varieties of celery, the beds are prepared in the fall: they dig out furrows 40 centimeters wide to a depth of 30 centimeters, fill them compost and manure, and fill it with soil on top. Digging trenches for planting and hilling plants at the end of June - July is necessary for most petiolate varieties so that the celery stalks "bleach" - that is, they acquire a whitish tint and a delicate, non-bitter taste. There are varieties that do not need hilling, but their petioles are not so crispy and the taste is not so rich.

Before spring transplanting seedlings, complex fertilizers are applied. Petiole celery needs a lot of nitrogen for normal growth, and plants need to be additionally fed with nitrogen.

When planting seedlings, you need to make sure that the rosettes of the leaves are above the soil surface, which is slightly compacted around the plants. As you grow, you need to fill up the soil in the furrows.

When the petioles reach 30 centimeters, you need to collect them in a bunch and tie them with twine, while not damaging the stems.The bases of the stems should be wrapped with dark paper, while the celery leaves should look out of the paper bags from above. This is necessary for the petioles to acquire a whitish hue and saturate them with juice.

The bleaching varieties themselves are grown on ordinary ridges, they do not need to be tied up or huddled up. For sweeter stalks, it is advisable to lay a layer of straw around the plants.

Growing leafy celery at home requires minimal hassle. Caring for him is weeding, loosening the soil and regular watering. In order not to loosen the soil after each watering, it can be mulched.

Celery growing video