Celery

Site Preparation: Well rotted manure added in autumn so that the water retaining of the soil is increased is essential to the growth oif this plant.

Sowing: The seeds of celery are minute and care should be taken when sowing to distribute them evenly over a tray of compost in early february. Being so small some people suggest that the seed is mixed with sharp sand to bulk up the mixture I haven't needed to do this but it is recommended.

Potting On: Once the seedlings produce the first true leaf they can be pricked out and put into 3" pots of compost. The pots need to be kept moist but not wet, so care with wwatering is essential. Once the pots fill with roots the plants can be potted on to 5" pots of compost.

Planting Out: At the start of May depending on the weather forecast the plants can be planted out with a feed of high N2 feed. A monthly feed of calcium nitrate should avoid celery heart rot problems. Collars are added at regualr intervals to blanch the stems of the plants.

Harvesting: When harvesting celery either remove individual sticks or use a fork to lift the whole plant. When harvewsted chop into small cubes and freeze.

Pests and Diseases: The number problem for celery is heart rot, this bacteria is a secondary disease as the bacteria needs a wound or crack in order to enter the sticks.

• Splitting - Good watering regime
• Slugs - Regular inspections under blanching collars

Varieties: The following are the varieties i have used with notes on the performance of each one.

• Red Star - Easy to Grow, good taste

Show tips: This section is for growing for show and should be used in conjunction with the info above. This section is also not the only way to produce show standard cabbages but is the way I do it. It may be very similar to other growers and most of my techniques have been taken from a mixture of existing techniques from top growers and what I have found works for me.