CELERY   Seeds and Dried Herb

Giant Red (85 days) Large red stalks and yellowish pink hearts with a strong celery flavor. Great for salads or eating out of hand.

#9921  Packet  $8.50   Approximately 1000 seeds
#B5m-9921  Bulk seed, 5000 seeds $17.50

Gold Self Blanching (85 days) Compact yellow 7 inch stalks. Great market variety.

#9922  Packet  $6.50   Approximately 1000 seeds
#B5m-9922  Bulk seed, 5000 seeds $17.50

Peppermint Stick (80 days) Unique bicolor red and white striped stalks with a bold celery flavor. A real eye-catcher for market and home use.

#9923  Packet  $10.50   Approximately 1000 seeds
#B5m-9923  Bulk seed, 5000 seeds $20.00

  Utah Tall (120 Days)  Standard celery with 10in. crisp stalks withstand some heat and moisture stress.

#1246  Packet  $3.50   Approximately 200 seeds
#B1z-1246  Bulk seed, 1oz  $8.50
#B4z-1246  Bulk seed 4oz  $16.50
B1-1246  Bulk seed, 1lb  $53.50

Green Queen (Shanghai Celery) (75 days) - Deep green leaves and stems with a full celery flavor.

#12358  Packet  $5.50   Approximately 1000 seeds
#B5m-12358  Bulk seed, 5000 seeds $20.50

White Stem (75 days)  - This heirloom from Taiwan has crisp yellow green stems and white ribs. Mild celery flavor - great for stir fries and soups.

#9924  Packet  $5.50   Approximately 1000 seeds
#B5m-9924  Bulk seed, 5000 seeds $20.50

#B1lb-1246W  Dried whole seed (for herbal use) $17.00
#B1lb-1246G  Dried ground seed (for herbal use) $17.00

CULTIVATION

The modern garden celery is a biennial cultivar of wild celery and a member of the Carrot family, Umbelliferae (syn. Apiacaea), although most cultivated types can be grown as annuals.  It has long fibrous roots and smooth divided leaves on long thick stalks.  The plants bear small yellow blooms the second year.  The leaf stalks are edible and leaves, stalks and seeds are widely used medicinally.

Celery is a more complicated plant to grow than some and needs very deeply tilled rich soil to grow well.  It also needs a great deal of water and cannot be allowed to become excessively dry during its growth cycle.  Propagation is done by sowing seeds.  Sow seeds in pots, trays or greenhouse boxes in early spring 10-12 weeks before transplanting outdoors.  Growing medium should be very rich with compost or humus, loam, and sand.  Sow at a depth of 1/4inch.  Keep moist at 65-70F.  When seedlings have 2 true leaves, transplant to larger containers or plug trays.  Grow on at 70-75F.  Harden off plants by reducing water slightly, not by lowering the temperature, which can induce bolting.  Transplant outdoors when all danger of frost is past, when temperatures do not fall below 65F.  Exposing plants to weather below 55F can induce bolting.  Prepare the garden area by cultivating deeply (at least 8-10 inches) and working in a great deal of organic matter - compost, composted manure or leaf mold.  One method of planting in good deep soil involves digging a trench 18 inches wide and setting aside the removed soil, then filling the trench with manure, compost or leaf mold.  The removed soil is then put on top of the trench and filled to within 6 inches of the top.  Plants are then set out in the trench, 18 inches apart.  Trenches should be 30 inches apart.  The soil mounded to the side of the trench is then used as the season progresses to pile against the growing plants.  Most gardeners, however, can have good luck by planting on a level surface and cultivating deeply.  Soil should be kept free of weeds and well watered, though not soggy as over watering can cause the inner leaves to become black. 

Some people prefer their celery blanched (bleached by blocking some sunlight) before picking.  Do this on a dry day when the plants are not wet.  Draw the stalks together and bank soil around the plants while they grow.  Remove all suckers that appear as these sap strength from the main plant.  Soil should not be packed tightly, but merely mounded around the plant.  Blanching can also be accomplished by drawing the stalks together and wrapping them with shanks of hay or straw, then mounding the soil around them. Another method is to place 1 x 10 x 8ft. boards on the 1 inch edge along either side of the rows (like a short fence), hammer stakes in to the ground to hold the boards in place, then fill between the boards around the plants with soil.  This should be done gradually as the plants gain height. By the end of the season, only the tops of the plants should be visible.  These plants can be kept in the ground until the following spring and harvested then.  It is also possible to simply wrap a collar of cardboard or thick newspaper around the plants 3-4 weeks before cutting.

(Also, as with many garden vegetables that are eaten fresh, or pickled for long term storage, Water blanching - the short dip in a boiling water bath, is often recommended for safest handling.)

You can continue to grow celery into the fall, but make certain to cover the plants  if frost appears imminent. 

Medicinally, celery has been used as a treatment for stomach upset, gout, as a sleep aid and a tonic.  Celery oil has been used as a calming tea and to treat rheumatism.  Celery can also produce dermatitis in some individuals.

HARVEST:  Stalks can be cut any time after reaching a good size.  For storage, dip the plants in cold water after cutting, then store just above freezing in high humidity.   Celery store in this manner should be good for 1-2 months. 

SEED SPECS:  Approximately 60,000 seeds per ounce;  Average 9,600 transplants per acre at 1 plant every 18 inches, rows 36 inches apart

There is great diversity in the vegetable varieties that we offer; which makes the general information provided only valuable as adjustable guidelines. This may also affect your seed planting and propagation strategies and the germination rates under your planting conditions may vary from the seed lot test results. The following soil temperature data is for celery in general. Temperatures are average daytime from planting to emergence. Percentage is average germination rate. Days is number of days to emergence.
32ºF x 0% x 0 days; 41ºF x 70% x 41 days; 50ºF x 72% x 16 days; 59ºF x 80% x 12 days; 68ºF x 97% x 7 days; 77ºF x 65% x 7 days; 86ºF x 0% x 0 days;

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