Celery

[Gardengirl]

Has anyone grown their own celery?  The stuff you buy in the supermarkets is absolute rubbish, green and bitter, so I thought if it was easy I would have a go.  I haven't got a lottie, but I have got a small area in the garden which I could try.  It only gets the sun for a short time during the day.  I believe there is alot of earthing up to do?  Any advice appreciated :)

[Gardengirl]

[Mrs Ava]

I am growing my own for the first time ever Pat.  I have 2 different types on the go, one I know is self blanching, which I assume means I don't have to earth up, the other one was a gift so I have no idea!  Must do some google-ing research.  The seed took a while to germinate, but once it started it grew like cress.  Now they are on their first and second true leaves, all in modules.  I am now waiting for someone who grows it to come along and tell us both what to do next.  :D

[Muddy_Boots]

same here, got some salad varieties from Cleo which need blanching and although he's mentioned how, would like more precise guidance :D

[Hugh_Jones]

You will find a thread on growing `proper` celery on page 15 of the Edible Plants Board - subject "Celery".  Let me know if you need any further elaboration.

[tim]

- but for the 'sort-of-celery', grow in a block - 9" apart - well manured if poss for moisture retention. They do say sow on the surface at 65F. Needs WATER!
It will not give you the gleaming sticks you get with blanching, and not so 'hearty', but it's fun.

And Pat - can you change your market? The stuff we get from Tesco, 'specially the 'hearts', is excellent. = Tim

Oh, thanks, Hugh - just looked back to see your remarks about Fenlander. Too late - thought it sounded a good name!!

[cleo]

My soil is too light and shallow for the traditional `trenching ` method so I make a surround of breeze(sp?) blocks and back fill with compost as they grow. I cannot say I am any good at it though-mostly it ends up full of dirt and rot. But what is edible is great.

MB-the blanching for your Frisee is different,you need to exclude light for a few days before you pick them-an easy way is to gather the leaves up in a bunch and pop some string round them-but do it on a dry day to prevent them going slimey.

Stephan.

[Gardengirl]

Thanks for the replies folks.  I am sorry, I should have done a search, I didn't realise there was a previous thread on the subject, which I have now read.  All sounds a bit complicated to get good results but may have a go.  At least the small patch of earth I have is quite shaded which may be a good thing by the sound of things.

[Muddy_Boots]

Thanks Cleo, will remember that.  :D

[Doris_Pinks]

Has anyone tried the American green? Just been reading about it, was thinking of giving it a go if it is not too late, and I can find it! DP

[kenkew]

That sounds like a fair solution, Cleo. Before you earth-up, keep the dirt out and improve blanching by wrapping the sticks in newspaper, just leave the tops visible.

[budgiebreeder]

We used to use the corrugated type brown card wrapped round to blanche ours.I dont know if you can still get this with the advent of bubble wrap.

[tim]

Should I pot these up now - or let 'em be?? = Tim

[Mrs Ava]

Yours are bigger than mine Tim  :o, so when you do yours let me know and I will put a note in my diary a couple of weeks later.

[tim]

Watch for the answer here - hopefully? = Tim