Celery - growing seedlings

Leaf celery is grown in Russia since the 18th century, nowadays the popular cropland crops are stem (petiolate) and root celery, the cultivation of which is the subject of interest of many gardeners.

Agrotechnical conditions of growing celery.

Agrotechnical conditions for all types of celery are almost the same. Celery cultivation plots are planned in the places where in the previous year there were cultures that required mineral and organic fertilizers (onions, potatoes, cucumbers, etc.). It is recommended to change the place of planting celery every year and not plant it after other umbelliferous crops for 2 years, since they have common pests and diseases.

The soil for the future harvest is prepared in the fall: on 1 square. M in autumn, when digging, manure (5 kg) or compost (3 kg) is introduced; In the spring before planting "under the rake" - urea (15 g), superphosphate (30 g), potassium chloride (15 g). In acidic soil it is necessary to make lime, clay - to loosen with the help of sand. The place should be sunny, watering abundantly. The zoned leaf celery varieties do not require the cultivation of seedlings, and the seeds are sown immediately to the beds.

Celery stalk, cultivation of which is also possible sowing seeds immediately in the open ground at the end of April, needs more careful care to get full fleshy and tender petioles. But, if you have a choice regarding seed celery, seeds or seedlings, then growing celery seedlings is a prerequisite for obtaining a crop. For the development and formation of root crops need at least six months, so in our climatic conditions, the cultivation of root celery is possible only in seedlings. Experienced truck farmers recommend to use seeds used for seeding for 2-3 years.

Growing seedlings of root and stem celery.

About the root celery gardeners-truck farmers learned relatively recently. Imported canned celery only let know that this unpretentious and well-known spicy herb has another variety. Now large, grayish-white rounded roots can be purchased throughout the year. Under certain storage conditions, the root celery retains its taste and "vitamin" qualities for a long time.

Celery of all species comes from the Mediterranean, it is thermophilic and has a long period of vegetation. Therefore, celery, the cultivation of which requires such a long time, is planted in seedlings as early as mid-February. Pre-seed soaked for three days, then dried. In a box with humus and turf ground (in equal proportions), seeds are sown and sprinkled with a layer of a half centimeter of a mixture of humus and sand. Thick shoots are thinned out so that the seedlings do not turn out to be weak.

Cultivation of celery seedlings of root and cauliflower occurs at a temperature of 15-18 ° C. Needed and moderate watering, and better - spraying, as the shoots are very small and tender.

When the shoots have one or two real leaves, the seedlings are dived and transplanted into peat pots, while the seedling should be immersed in the soil at least half the stem. In two weeks the seedlings can be planted on the beds, but before that it must be tempered: put in a cool place (balcony, veranda) for the night.

Planting seedlings in the open ground and caring for plants.

After all supposed frosts, usually in the middle of May, you can plant seedlings. Young plants by this time reach 5-7 cm tall and have 4-5 leaflets. Seedlings of cauliflower celery are planted in wells arranged in rows at a certain distance from each other - not less than 15 cm, between rows, the distance is 40 cm.

Stem celery, the cultivation of which later on consists of regular and abundant watering, requires constant soil moisture - an indispensable condition for its good development. Top dressing of plants is carried out twice a season: the last one - in the middle of July. Then the celery stems are wrapped with paper, straw, mats (leaves leave open), so that the petioles become juicy and tender. Harvest of cauliflower celery is removed in the second half of August.

Root celery - growing it requires more attention than the leaf or celery. Seedlings are planted in holes located at a distance of at least 30-40 cm and between plants, and between rows. The apical bud of the plant should not be covered with earth. Then the seedlings are watered abundantly. Root celery is fed three times per season. The first time - two weeks after planting seedlings, the second - in the period of intensive growth of leaves. The third fertilizer is produced during the formation of the fetus. Harvest of root celery is collected in late September - early October.