IN NEED OF ADVICE ON HOW TOO GROW CELERY

[tim]

Some say use straw to help blanch self-blanching celery. Others think that that's a bonus for slugs.

What about putting planks around the sides??

[tim]

[tim]

Why so many mini-stems??

[terrace max]

What about putting planks around the sides??

An old book of mine suggests using asbestos sheets for the side of the trench  :o. I'm sure quite a few of us have those lying around on our plots!

[tim]

ASBESTOS?? A very old book!

[terrace max]

Absolutely antediluvianly ancient: Grow Your Own by Lawrence D. Hills, published 1971!!

I didn't even know they had printing presses then...

[john_miller]

Why so many mini-stems??

They are other buds breaking as the effects of the auxin produced by the central growing point lessens. This may indicate that the plant is about to flower as gibberelic acid is possibly starting to predominate.

Tim is right on the versatility front - you only have to watch the TV to see that the whole vegetable can be used for entertainment

The stalks can be used, when wetted, to heighten enjoyment of naughty things - 'Allo 'Allo

The roots, being turnip-like, can have all sorts of uses and be very valuable - Black Adder

Phil ;D

Sorry John, as you have left the country that is probably lost on you

Totally. Black Adder has been shown over here but I don't watch enough T.V. to understand the comment!

[tim]

All gibberish to me, John - but thanks!

PS - later - you were so right??

[john_miller]

Perhaps I have an excess of gibberellic acid too, Tim?
You may want to check your other plants too. You, and anyone else with celery of course, can do this by carefully pulling away the stalks and seeing if you can see any more flowering stem initials or reaching down into the heart and trying to feel for them. If one is bolting more are probably getting ready to.

[PREMTAL]

Hi Terrace Max,
                         The last thing you would want to introduce to your plot is asbestos it is carcinogenic. :o

There is a multitude of data stating the devastating effects of asbestos, back in the 70's the effects of asbestos related diseases were still a matter of conjecture. It is now known to be a carcinogenic material and is as far as I am aware it is restricted as to usage.

I would advise anyone to steer clear of using this material. ;)

Sorry to be a prophet of doom but it is very nasty stuff.


                                                        PREMTAL

[tim]

That, in one word, was my meaning!

[terrace max]

Errm, likewise...!

[Robert_Brenchley]

Any time asbestos turns up on my site, and there's plenty of it squirrelled away, the Council gets in a firm of specialists to get rid of it, probably at great expense.

[terrace max]

Our parish council clerk told a fellow allomenter to burn the asbestos sheets on his allotment  ???

[organicartist]

I've grown Golden Self Blanching 3 this year. I started the seedlings off in the heated propagator and then transferred to my pvc greenhouse. the plants grew well, and all survived transplant to the plot. The seed packet did mention the side shoots shown in tim's pic, and said to remove them to increase size of remaining stalks. (No point if they start bolting obviously). The stalks are not nearly as big as supermarket celery, probably because I haven't watered them every day, but they are tender and have a great flavour.

[tim]

Remove them?? Ha! See me in the middle of a 24 plant jungle trying to do that?

Can't even touch my toes!

[PREMTAL]

Terrace Max / Tim,
                             Sorry about the rant I just did not read the posts properly, I saw the word asbestos and the red mist came down. ::)

In my early years I worked in the shipyards and 3 of the lads I knew worked with that evil stuff every day, none of them saw their 60th birthday. :(

It was killing them every day and they were oblivious of the risks, they were never supplied with protective masks just paid danger money. >:(

                                                 PREMTAL

[tim]

Rant on  -  I'm right behind you!!