Cultivating celery in your backyard garden creates flavorful soups, stews, and crunchy snacks. Celery provides a consistent crop for months (or years) that includes both leaves and stems, making it a great addition to any garden plan.
Introduction to growing celery
Most of us are familiar with the vegetable crispy green celery, but it doesn’t seem to grow well in our backyard gardens. Well, this article is here to change that! Celery grows very beautifully in backyards and home gardens.
types of celery
When it comes to celery, there are not many well-known and identified varieties. Unlike crops such as tomatoes and beans, which come in countless shades and varieties, you don’t have to make difficult choices while growing celery.
Comparison with a specific type:
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Conquistadors can withstand higher heat.
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Tango is said to have a better flavor and less fiber in the stem compared to conquistador.
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Chinese pink celery, with its attractive stems, provides a conversation piece.
grow celery in containers
Celery has thin roots, making it ideal for container gardening. Choose a container that is 10 to 18 inches in diameter. One to two celery plants will fit in the smaller container of this range.You can grow 3 or 4 from the giant.
Fill the container with fertile soil. If you use potting soil, add good quality compost. Use the instructions above to direct seed sowing or seedling transplanting.
celery care tips
Throughout the growing season, celery plants require constant monitoring of water and pests. Your celery plant can thrive with regular care and mate planting.
1. Water frequently
Celery always needs a lot of water. The final crop can be affected by even temporarily dry soil. Regular watering throughout the season helps to avoid stringy, stiff stems.
2. Weeding and mulching are best friends
Weeds are less likely to germinate in soil covered with organic matter, which keeps the ground cool and moist. Mulch is favored by earthworms and other beneficial soil organisms and provides food for the soil food chain by breaking down. Each crop needs the right kind of mulch, and celery can benefit from a light straw like mulch.
3. keep your plant safe
Use row covers to keep young plants and new stems free from pests such as aphids and earthworms during the first month of growth.
4. Use companion planting
Pests can be repelled from celery by mate planting. To attract pollinators and ward off fungi and invasive insects, keep celery near other plants such as garlic, shallots, sage, dill and mint. plant.
When and how to harvest celery
Knowing when to harvest celery is easy. Start cutting off the outer stems as soon as they reach 8 inches tall.
If your celery stalks are thinner or darker than the typical grocery store bunch, don’t panic. They are usually grown in greenhouses and exposed to pesticides.
Let’s enjoy gardening!
First Published: Dec 28, 2022, 11:44 IST