Few gardeners in our area seem to grow celery. Commonly used Celio is not difficult to grow and is useful in the kitchen. It's puzzling why gardeners don't usually include it in their spring garden plans.
This may be part of the reason why so little is known about growing celery.
Celery thrives in full sun and tolerates partial shade. It will do well in clay soil which may be wetter than other soils, as it was originally moist soil. Celery is a shallow root and a lack of water can make the stalks tougher and more bitter.
How do I grow celery in my garden?
Sesame cultivation begins in early spring. Here are a few tips:
Sow the seeds indoors 10 to 12 weeks before the last frost and make sure not to cover the seeds with soil as they need light to germinate.
Germination should be seen in 15-20 days and in five weeks the plant should be ready to enter the garden.
Plant them 6 to 12 inches apart around April 1.
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What pests to look for with Celium?
Selium often harbors parasites. Insects include aphids, scale insects and cutworms. You can effectively use floating covers or rod collars for control. Antibiotics are available in severe cases. Some diseases that affect celery include leaf blight and celery mosaic virus. Black heart is often referred to as a disease, but it's actually a lack of calcium that causes tomatoes to rot. A little lime applied should help the black heart.
What type of celery should you grow?
There are many varieties to choose from, but I try to choose a variety that is proven to work for the Ohio Valley climate and soil.
Conga, Merengo, Samba and Tango are good and Samba and Tango are resistant to the harmful effects of Fusarium soil fungus. Tango is considered softer and softer than others.
Mars and Brilliant are two other varieties that are considered good choices for home gardeners or market growers in our area.
P. Andrew Rideout is a UK Horticultural Extension Officer and can be contacted at pandrewrideout@uky.edu.
This article originally appeared on the Henderson Gleaner: How can I grow celery in my garden?
