How to grow stalked celery in the open field?

There are a large number of vegetable crops that have been consumed for quite some time, and the history of their use by humans included such periods when plants were worshiped as a deity. In addition to potatoes, celery belongs to such vegetables. Its popularity and today causes active cultivation in gardens and suburban areas.

Even in the times of ancient Greece, they were engaged in the cultivation of celery. In addition to the usual use of culture, they made jewelry from it, in addition, the image of a vegetable appeared on the coins. In Russia, it was grown for the preparation of medicines, and only after a while, they discovered the properties of celery to act as a unique seasoning in their organoleptic qualities, which improved the taste and smell of many dishes.

There are several types of plants:

• root;
• sheet;
• stalked.

Stalked celery is planted for the sake of greenery. Such a plant does not form a thickening on the root system, but is distinguished by large foliage and succulent petioles, the thickness of which may be about four centimeters. He is a member of the umbrella family. There is a relationship of plants with such popular vegetable crops as carrots and coriander.

Celery celery is a biennial plant that is planted with seeds.. In the first year of vegetable life, the growth and development of the root system occurs, and its stem also grows. In the second phase of the life cycle, the culture begins to bloom, after which it bears fruit.

Due to the peculiarities of vegetable development, it is cultivated in vegetable gardens for only one year, due to the fact that only the stem and green mass of celery is eaten. Therefore, the further development of culture is no longer advisable. The seeds of stalked celery cannot boast of a wide range of applications.

As for the appearance, the plant is somewhat similar to parsley. First of all, due to the feathery leaves collected in the outlet, and the root system of the core type. The inflorescences of the plant resemble umbrellas, which include a large number of small flowers. The maximum size of stalked celery is about one meter. A distinctive feature of the vegetable is the need for abundant watering, in addition, it is resistant to low temperatures.

Like any other culture, celery has some features that relate to its cultivation. Vegetable does not belong to capricious plants, because it adapts well to different weather conditions. Therefore, properly planned agrotechnical measures will give every chance to get juicy and healthy petioles as a crop. Planting is made in open ground.

The plant belongs to cold-resistant types, in the light of which it grows more actively at low air temperatures and moderate humidity levels. The optimum temperature for celery is the thermometer value from + 15 ° C to + 20 ° C. On sale there are seeds of varieties that retain their viability even with small frosts.

Planting celery in nutrient soil containing a large amount of humus will have a positive effect on its development. Soils with high levels of acidity should be avoided. To normalize this indicator, pre-liming of the earth will be an effective tool.

Celery is well developed in the soil, which will contain nitrogen in large quantities, but with proper watering. In order to maximize the feeding area for planting crops, the soil must be fertilized with mineral compounds or compost. The best predecessors of the vegetable will be cucumbers, zucchini or potatoes.You can grow seeds for seedlings starting from the last week of February.

The plant needs the maximum access of light both in the phase of breeding seedlings, and after planting on the beds in open ground. Stalked celery should be attributed to plants that are very fond of moisture, which is why in the dry season the volume of liquid for irrigating one square meter of the plot with plants will be about 25 liters.

Now on the shelves of supermarkets you can find a huge amount of seed stalked celery. The greatest demand among vegetable growers is seeds that are the fruit of the work of domestic breeders. This is explained by the high level of crop adaptation to the climatic features of our regions. Most of them are frost resistant and immune to disease, and the stalks of plants have excellent taste.

It is necessary to treat the selection of the optimally suitable variety with full responsibility, since the yield and the organoleptic properties of celery will directly depend on the right decision.

A large number of positive reviews from vegetable growers and gardeners have plant varieties described below.

• Celery "Gold". It is allocated for the term of maturing, making about 150 days. Petioles are famous for their high palatability and meatiness; they can be eaten fresh or frozen.
• Sort "Utah" is a mid-season culture, ripening stalks varies between 160-180 days. Celery of this variety is notable for the length and width of its stem, besides, there are no fibers in the pulp. The plant requires bleaching.
• "Pascal" also applies to varieties that require bleaching to increase quality. Competent agrotechnology makes it possible to ripen celery within 100 days after sowing seeds.
• "Atlant" it is distinguished by the glossy surface of the stem with minimal ribbing.

• Sorta "Groom" and "Royal" popular as ingredients for salads, in addition, these types of celery perfectly amenable to freezing and drying.
• Celery "Malachite" is an early variety of vegetables. It is popular due to its high yield.
• "Crunch" - it is positioned as a cold-resistant look.
• Sort "Tango" remarkable juicy flesh of flesh and the ability to permanently retain its visual appeal after harvest.
• Czech celery variety "Nuget" it is distinguished by its small size and early terms of aging culture.

Using the seedling method of growing stalked celery, you can get a good harvest in the first season. It is best to plant seedlings at home in boxes that are filled with soil mixture consisting of leaf earth, humus, sand and peat.

Celery seeds are soaked with essential oils, which delays their shoots.

To make the development more rapid, you can resort to some proven methods:

• alternate soaking seed in water, different in temperature;
• leave for germination for a week and a half.

The first method involves performing work in three stages - for 5 minutes the seeds are dipped in hot water, then for 10 minutes. The last time they are removed from the water after it is completely cooled. In the second case, the seeds are moistened, after which they are laid in a damp napkin and sent to the refrigerator.

Celery seeds are sown in the seed box.

Sowing and further care are performed according to the following technology:

• soaked and germinated seeds are evenly distributed on the ground;
• from above, they are covered with a small layer of earth and covered with a plastic bag or placed under glass;
• the air temperature in the room should be around + 20 ° C;
• Seeds require bright light to boost growth.
• after the plant has sprung up, the shelter should be removed, and the temperature in the room should be reduced to + 15 ° C.

As a rule, the appearance of the first shoots occurs in one and a half to two weeks. Plants in boxes need to remove weeds and smaller, less viable shoots.

After the appearance of two leaves, from the box of the plant, you can dive into pots or individual cups. When transplanting it is important to preserve the stem, as well as ensure that the socket is located above ground level. Placing tara with young cultures is necessary in a place where there will be enough light.

Before you work on rooting celery celery in the ground, you need to harden the seedlings. For this, containers with plants are taken to the veranda or to another unheated room. The optimum temperature for hardening is considered to be + 10 ° C. In the first days, the seedlings are hardened at noon, gradually leading up to the plants spend in new conditions up to 5 hours per day. If climatic conditions allow, plants can be left on the covered veranda for the whole night.

Usually transplanting in open ground is done in the last week of April or early May. However, it all depends on the weather in each individual region. The main requirement is the absence of frost.

Transplantation of young plants in the garden is carried out taking into account a number of important nuances:

• air temperature should not be lower than + 16 ° C during the daytime;
• The soil pH at the site should be no more than 5.5-6.5, in addition, good aeration should be maintained in the ground;
• for beds under stalked celery, it is necessary to choose sunny areas, the shadow will contribute to the formation of a sharper smell in the vegetable;
• The optimal pattern for planting a crop is the following: the distance between the rows of plants is 40 centimeters, the distance between vegetables is 20 centimeters;
• seedling heart when rooting culture in the ground should be located above the ground.

For the landing of celery is used a trench with good depth. But there are varieties of vegetables that can be planted in the usual beds. Over time, during the development of plants, earth will need to be added to the furrows.

Trench method of disembarkation involves the following works:

• digging trenches 30x20 centimeters, with a distance of 70 centimeters between them;
• a hillock from the north side is formed from the soil from the depressions; such a feature will allow the plants to be protected from wind and spring cold;
• the bottom is filled with the composition of the earth and humus.

Planting is carried out strictly in the center. After the celery stem begins to thicken, it is necessary to carry out the first backfilling of the landing recesses.

To care for a young plant, it is very important to keep the area clean and to remove weeds in time, because in the first month the crop develops rather slowly, and the weeds, in general, can stifle the growth of the vegetable. With a celery stalk thickening, he will need an earthing up. For these purposes, suitable not only the soil from the garden, but also turf or compost. Hilling culture is carried out in several approaches until all the land from the hill created near the trench is used.

These activities allow you to save the white color of the stem. Petioles, which are significantly lagging in development, must be carefully removed. More developed bind together above the foliage level, thus eliminating the risk that they will break as they grow or influence other factors.

Humidity of the soil must be constantly monitored, the earth should not dry out, but watering should be carried out in reasonable quantities, because the excess moisture accumulated will not benefit the plant - the stems simply rot. In addition, high humidity can trigger a fungal infection.And the lack of moisture will cause a change in the taste of the petioles, in addition, an arrow-peduncle will begin to form on the plant, and the celery will set seeds.

Fermented celery is important fertilizer.

• The first feeding is carried out in 14-21 days after planting the culture in open ground. This will require a nutritional composition consisting of mullein and bird droppings. Korovyak is diluted with water at a ratio of 1:10, bird droppings - 1:20.
• The second introduction of fertilizers is carried out in a month, during this period it is necessary to use mineral complexes, however, they should contain as little nitrogen as possible, since it can provoke cracking of the stem with a lack of moisture.

In the last week of June it is worthwhile to take care of protecting celery from greening. For these purposes, the stem is wrapped with thick paper, cardboard or craft paper. The only requirement for the material is the absence of any inscriptions on it, which were applied when using printing ink.

UV protection is necessary for the entire stem in height, before the beginning of the growth of foliage on it. Protective material will be on the stalks before harvest. At the end of the summer, the stalks can be collected for later use, but the main collection work takes place in September, during this period the largest plants are harvested, the remaining crops can remain in the ground until October.

With regard to incidence, the development of disease in the culture can often be triggered by mistakes made in the process of caring for vegetables.

Insufficient air exchange, waterlogging of the soil and micronutrient deficiencies lead to the diseases described below.

• Tsarkosporoz - in the course of its development there is a change in the color of the foliage and petioles with their subsequent drying. To reduce the risk of morbidity, they are decontaminated at the stage of planting celery seeds. Already diseased plants are treated with fungicides.
• Septoria is manifested by a similar spot on a green mass, but a slightly different form of spots. For the fight must be spraying fungicides.
• Rust - a disease that occurs due to the cold summer. Red growths in the form of spores are formed on the plants. An effective composition for the fight and treatment is "Fitosporin."

Of insect pests for stalked celery, there is a danger of carrot or celery fly. To destroy insects and their larvae pollinated the culture with tobacco dust or dry mustard.

If the harvest of petioles is planned to be used in the coming days, it will be enough to store the vegetable in a plastic bag or plastic wrap for storage and send it to the refrigerator.

If necessary, save the celery for a longer time, you can stop at one of the proposed storage options.

• In the cellar or basement, where the temperature will not be above + 10 ° C, the plant, located in a vertical position in the box, is deepened into river sand.
• Vegetables are placed in sandbags and sent to storage in a room where the humidity level is about 90% and the temperature does not exceed 0 ° C.
• To preserve celery as long as possible, clay is used. A special mass is prepared from it, which by its consistency will be similar to sour cream, after which it must be lubricated with each petiole. Next, the vegetable is dried and placed in storage in the basement or cellar.

In addition, celery can be stored in dried form, because in this state it does not lose its organoleptic qualities. Vegetable can be cleaned and chopped in a blender.Vegetable mass will be perfectly stored in the refrigerator in a glass container with a lid. The mixture can also be kept in the freezer.

For more information on how to grow stalked celery, see the next video.