Planting and growing celery

Celery is an annually grown vegetable, which can be grown from seedling or seed. There are many varieties available in gardening outlets from the red stem 'Peppermint Celery' or the more perennial, shorter growing habit, Chinese celery to the more traditionally grown, self-branching varieties, which don't require wrapping of the lower stems to keep them white in colour.

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Celery demands plenty of moisture and well-composted, rich nutrient soil to develop well due to its juicy nature. Use Searles 5 in 1 Organic Fertiliser added into the soil before planting, to ensure younger plants receive essential nutrients for prolonged feeding and moisture is retained.

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Ensure celery is planted in a position where it receives full sun for most of the day.

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Due to celery's high water content, a regular watering regime is important to keep flesh tasty, but it is equally important for the soil to be free draining, to prevent waterlogging and root rot.

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Celery has a relatively long maturing time, five months on average, depending on the climatic zone and variety grown. Celery will grow in cooler weather, but not during extremes of heat or cold. Plant in autumn for the tropics, winter for inland regions, autumn and winter for subtropics, spring and summer for temperate zones and from late spring to early autumn for colder regions.

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Celery can be grown in pots filled with Searles Herb & Vegetable Specialty Mix. This mix is effective in retaining water to keep soil moist and provides fertiliser for growth.

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To keep growth strong, tasty and fast, liquid feed every fortnight with SeaMax Organic Fertiliser. This will provide a constant nutrient supply and reduce the risk of fungal diseases, such as septoria leaf spot. Keep area weed-free to reduce nutrient competition.

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TIP: Like many other vegetable varieties, celery can be planted a few weeks apart to stagger production. An average family will require about 15 plants to see them through the season.

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