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JanG,

You are literally "grasping the nettle" - where "the plant is grasped firmly, especially if that is done in the direction the [needle] hairs are growing, the hairs tend to be pushed flat and avoid penetrating the skin".

Yes, but the poly will also have rain concentrating and flowing down at the edge when it does rain, or condensation collecting on the inside of the cover and eventually running down to the edges.  Maybe it's time to give a stalk a try and see.  May not be that stringy after all, despite very dry soil. 

Yes, juliev, as well as plentiful watering, you've reminded me of reading in old traditional veg gardening books of very labour-intensive ways of tying up celery stalks for the blanching effect. 

And interesting on the marsh plant background. I have a magnificent plant of deep red celery growing right on the edge of the side of my polytunnel which I haven't watered since last season. The soil is as dry as dust although perhaps some external water has seeped under the plastic at a deeper level. In fact, as I write, I'm deciding it's not so surprising!  But I imagine it's pretty tough.

Thank you all, I will go ahead and plant just one in my good soil space and let it go gravel walking and will do another in a half barrel and let it roam on my tiled patio  paths. The other two will go in a border, they will have to roam round shrubs etc but better than the bin.

It is the Mayoral Blue by the way I have managed to get 4 really big plants from the very old seed I sowed  so am really pleased about that and looking forward to being able to share seeds before I myself pop off.

JanG..still perusing, I haven't forgotten I am just so busy trying to get everything in place for the season and I am very slow these days doing that.

Thank you all a again


XX Jeannine

I also think you would be absolutely fine, Jeannine. 

Gosh they look pretty Jan.  My Red Venture was at this stage and I planted them out yesterday, but they were started a lot earlier than the Chinese Pink.  Really looking forward to this. 

Yes, celery is a marsh plant and if our gardens are dry and the soil is cracking, this is difficult to achieve. Has never stopped me cutting them into smaller bits and adding to salads.  And there are also cooked celery recipes to try other than soups and stews.   https://www.riverford.co.uk/recipes/celery-baked-in-ham-cheese?srsltid=AfmBOoohLWvmov96DpX4itqwpGyxHFuLouYgOU-A4d0xr-G2xRb0-geW

They look so pretty! A fantastic addition to your celery mix, JanG!

Not sure how they do it commercially... some kind of blanching method with abundant irrigation? Definitely not happening in my garden   

A not very clear photo of my Chinese Pink seedlings before planting out. [attach id=50194]IMG

Quote from: juliev on May 16, 2025, 07:38:45I hope I have mixed celery too! I am planning a relaxed celery mix that I can just scatter in the beds. I have some big healthy pink/reds and greens that overwintered and are going to seed at the moment (much better than the ones I ever planted...). I might lose the bigger stalks, mixing them all that way, but I mainly use it in soups and stews so it's not a problem. Thanks again Vetivert for the seeds! Fingers crossed for your peas...

I'm delighted too to have celery self-seeding and coming up in all sorts of odd spots, never a nuisance as it's so upright. It's always red, probably a descendant of Redventure, although I've also had Solid Pink from HSL, which I grew for a couple of years and might have contributed.

Many years ago I fretted because the celery I grew was relatively tough and stringy and I was hoping for the kind you used to dip in salt and eat raw for Sunday tea! I'm not sure how that is achieved commercially but it's not happened for me. But like you, juliev, it's significant use is for soups and stews and very much valued for those.

Hi Jeannine. I also think you're fine to let your squash ramble over your gravel. They try to put down further roots of course, but can manage without those, and in any case the roots can explore your gravel for moisture.

Are you also wondering how many would go into your three foot square of good soil? There I'm uncertain. Two certainly. Maybe three? Possibly all four if they can get their roots really deep and perhaps beyond the surface area of soil? Could you have one in a half barrel, and allow it to trail along the gravel with the others?

I hope yours grow well too, Tricia. I'm also trying Pink Banana for the first time (and Potimarron, but not for the first time)  but it's very slow to get going. I'm hoping it will catch up.