Celery is a healthy, nutritious, and versatile vegetable for many meals. The healthy benefits of this vegetable has prompted many people to find ways to grow their own celery at home.
How does someone grow celery at home? Here are some steps to get you started growing your own, fresh celery at home.
To begin with, celery demands a long growing season, almost 5 months, void of a heavy frost, and where the temperature is cool and moist.
It’s best to begin germination of the celery seeds indoors, probably in late February, or early March, and at least 6-8 weeks before the last frost is predicted. This procedure also should be done preferably under particular lights that can speed their growth. It’s also recommended to soak your celery seeds for at least 10-12 hours, to stimulate better growth and germination of the seedlings.
Cover the celery seeds with a thin layer of soil, which can be included in a mixture of organic compost, and manure. Then, scatter the seeds across a large flat bed tray, or container. After a few weeks of seedling growth, you can now take them outdoors to be planted for further growth.
Pick an area outside that has plenty of sun for at least 6 hours. Enrich the area of soil with manure, or some other compost to ensure the soil is infused with plenty of nutrients to promote healthy growing of the celery plant.
It’s best to plant the seedlings 6-8 inches apart, in about half inch holes. Make sure you keep the soil thoroughly moistened, adding an organic rich compost, as well. Apply mulch to retain the moisture, as celery seeds tend to germinate very slowly.
You’ll want to keep your celery plants nourished weekly with enough water, about an inch, until the longer, growing process is over and you can harvest the celery crop. Celery stalks that haven’t received adequate water intake may become stringy, or tough.
Be sure to weed around the plants frequently, to allow just the celery plant to soak up all the nutrient rich soil, and obtain the most light. You may even want to add some kind of liquid fertilizer every few weeks to ensure your plants are getting the best nourishment possible to properly flourish.
When it comes time to harvest the celery crop, remember to cut off the plant above the soil line, keeping the stalks all together as one bundle.
Finally, wash the celery stalk bulb in cold water, allowing it to dry. Then, it can be placed in the refrigerator for about two weeks. The celery tops, stalks and leaves can then be stored in multiple ways by either, chilling, blanching, or freezing them in plastic bags.
Now, you can enjoy your own freshly, grown celery which can conveniently be added to soups, salads, and broth, or simply used as a convenient snack of vegetables that your whole family can enjoy.Nothing compares to the taste of fresh, home grown vegetables, which you can grow, prepare, and eat by yourself.
