Celery stalk: growing and care

Nutritionists all over the world, as well as doctors who have joined them, have long been saying that stalked celery is undoubtedly one of the most useful foods and strongly recommend including it in the diet of all those who care about their health. Thanks to him, the body produces antibodies that help us cope with viruses and bacteria, as well as, according to scientists, with cancer cells. There is nothing difficult in growing stalked celery, you just need to correctly calculate the time and plant seedlings on time, we will talk about this further.

Celery stalk: planting dates

When choosing seeds, keep in mind that even early-ripening celery varieties ripen from 90 days, let alone late varieties, the ripening time of which is approaching five months. And in the case of stalked celery, it is not recommended to harvest the crop ahead of time, since it should increase its mass and volume, and by this time frosts can ruin the harvest of later varieties. So, I recommend that you, of course, starting from the local climate, stay on early and mid-season varieties. In order for the seedlings to grow stronger by the time they are planted in the ground, seeds should be sown in early spring, and in warmer regions this can be done in mid-February. The seedlings will be fully ready for transplantation no earlier than in two to two and a half months.

Celery stalk: preparing and planting seeds

Why did humans start cultivating celery? It's low-calorie and, one might argue, low flavor. We asked some experts at the intersection of botany and anthropology to share their best guesses.

Celery seeds contain a lot of essential oil, so they sprout for a long time and not amicably. To speed up this process, you can resort to various tricks, but before that, be sure to soak the seeds for half an hour in a light solution of potassium permanganate, this helps to cope with bacteria and prevent the development of diseases in the future. But then you can act in any of the ways suggested below. 1.On the eve of sowing, immerse the seeds in water at a temperature of +50 degrees and leave for a day (as the liquid cools down, it must be changed to maintain the temperature). Then rinse the seeds in running water and dry on a napkin or cotton cloth. 2. Place a well-moistened cloth or cotton pad in a container, spread the seeds and cover with glass or plastic. Place the resulting greenhouse in a warm place (+25 degrees) and make sure that the fabric does not dry out. You can plant when the seeds begin to "hatch". 3. Soak the seeds in room temperature water for three days - they will absorb water as much as possible and swell. All these methods help to "wake up" the seeds and speed up the emergence of seedlings. But I repeat: do not forget to first disinfect both the seeds and the earth. To do this, either spill the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate, or steam it in a double boiler or in a water bath. Wash, disinfect and dry the containers in which you plan to plant well. Sowing is carried out in shallow grooves, moisten the soil with warm water beforehand and after sowing. It is better to do this from a spray bottle by spraying. Then cover with glass or plastic and leave at room temperature.

We take care of seedlings

Seedlings should appear in 2-3 weeks. At this point, it is recommended to lower the temperature to + 16-17 degrees, and make the lighting more diffused - this is necessary so that the sprouts grow stronger and do not stretch out towards the light.Watering should be done regularly, avoiding drying out, preferably from a spray bottle, so as not to damage delicate seedlings (some are gently watered from a syringe). A month later, when the sprouts already have a couple of real leaves, make a pick by planting celery in separate containers (flower cassettes or peat cups are suitable). When transplanting, do not deepen the plant too much, since, having covered up the central bud, you will stop the growth and development of shoots. Like any culture grown by the seedling method, two to three weeks before transplanting to a permanent place, the seedlings must be hardened. Take it out to the balcony or garden for 10-15 minutes at first and gradually increase this time. It should be replanted when the threat of frost has passed, usually in mid-May.

We transplant into open ground

You should choose and prepare a place for stalked celery in the fall. The more thoroughly you carry out the preparatory work, the less time you will have to devote to combating diseases and pests. To do this, dig up the soil, removing all roots, plant debris, and insects that come across. Add compost, ash and superphosphate and leave until fall. When choosing a place for celery, keep in mind that it will not grow after some herbs (dill, cilantro, parsley), after parsnips and carrots. The best precursors for it are peas, beans, tomatoes and cucumbers, as well as any of the cabbages. Observing the rules of crop rotation, you significantly increase the quality of the crop. On the eve of transplanting, water the seedlings so that it is easier to remove them from containers with a lump of earth without damaging the root system. When transplanting, keep the distance between the bushes at least 30 cm, since with a closer arrangement, the plants will experience a lack of light, which will affect the taste of the product.

We take care of the plant

All, the most difficult thing is behind, there is feeding, watering and loosening - the basic rules of caring for any crop. He loves water very much, he needs it if you plan to get juicy stalks. So that moisture evaporates less, you can mulch the soil with straw or peat. As a fertilizer, select complexes that include nitrogen and potassium in equal compounds, they contribute to the growth of greenery. Sometimes the stalks of stalked celery are lightened. To do this, periodically spud out after watering with damp soil, covering the bush almost to half. Or, instead of earth, you can take cardboard by wrapping a bush with it. If you find harmful insects (celery fly, aphids, spider mites) on the plantings of stalked celery, do not rush to use chemicals, first use a decoction of onion peel. Add a tablespoon of liquid soap to it and spray the plants. A mixed planting of celery with marigolds and garlic will reduce the likelihood of pests to almost zero. As you can see, there is nothing difficult in growing stalked celery. Planted seedlings on time, adherence to the rules of crop rotation, a little patience and you can enjoy delicious and unusually healthy celery.