Celery has been known since Ancient Greece. It was here that the wild variety was bred cultivated plant and elevated him to the rank of sacred. Decorations for the dead were made from celery, and its image was minted on coins. Celery was not grown in Europe until the 16th century. At the same time, the plant appeared in Russian apothecary gardens. At first it was used for medicinal purposes and only over time began to be used as an aromatic seasoning that significantly improves the smell and taste of food. Today there are several varieties of this unique plant, among which a special place is occupied petiole celery.
What is a vegetable
Petiole celery belongs to the umbelliferous family. The vegetable boasts a relationship with such popular and well-known crops as carrots, cumin, coriander, anise, etc. This is a biennial plant that is planted with seeds, and in the first year life cycle it forms a stem and rhizome, and in the second year it blooms and bears fruit. As a vegetable crop, petiole celery is usually grown only for one season, since the stem and leaves of the plant are mainly used for food. Vegetable seeds have more limited uses.
Externally, celery resembles parsley: it has pinnately dissected leaves, collected in a rosette, and a taproot. The inflorescences are a kind of umbrellas and consist of a large number of small flowers. The culture can grow up to 1 m in height, it is moisture-loving and cold-resistant. 
High-quality petioles are obtained only in the first year of the plant’s growing season.
The benefits and harms of petiole celery
First of all, we must say about the use of stalked celery in cooking. The stems of the plant are ideal for stewing and frying; they are added raw to various salads. The product goes perfectly with meat and fish dishes. A very healthy juice and aromatic tea are made from it. 
The juice of the plant is quickly absorbed by our body, penetrating into cells through the blood and lymph.
One of the most remarkable properties of celery is its low, almost negative calorie content: the human body spends more calories digesting celery products than it receives when consuming them.
In addition, celery is able to actively burn fat, so its consumption is indispensable for people who control their weight and seriously monitor their health. Experts note the following factors for the beneficial effects of celery products on our body:
- it promotes cleansing of toxins;
- strengthens the immune system;
- has a beneficial effect on digestion;
- slows down the aging process and helps cope with senile dementia;
- normalizes metabolism;
- cures burns, cuts, inflammations, hematomas and other skin disorders;
- has a calming effect;
- has a beneficial effect on the condition of the hair.
- hypertension;
- obesity;
- diseases of the genitourinary system;
- rheumatism.
Such a wide range of usefulness is associated with the content of a huge amount of essential vitamins and minerals in the culture, including:
- potassium;
- phosphorus;
- zinc;
- calcium;
- gland;
- vitamins of groups A, B, C, PP, E.
Daily consumption of two tablespoons of chopped celery greens provides the daily need of the human body for carotene and vitamin C.
Contraindications
People suffering from gastric ulcers, varicose veins, thrombophlebitis, urolithiasis, and epilepsy should avoid consuming the plant in any form. The vegetable is not recommended for pregnant women and nursing mothers, since consuming spicy greens can cause increased gas formation, which will negatively affect the gestating fetus, as well as the digestion of the baby who will receive the product along with breast milk mother. Celery gives milk a specific smell and taste, which can cause a baby to refuse to breastfeed.
Video: celery - benefits, harm and contraindications
There are three varieties of celery: root, leaf and petiole. Root varieties are grown for their useful and nutritious root, which reaches a 10-centimeter diameter. U celery root The above-ground part can also be eaten, but since the variety has a long growing season (from 150 days), during which it is not recommended to cut the stems of the plant, it is not grown for greens. For this purpose, leaf celery is planted, which quickly forms a rosette with delicate leaves, and has regular, small petioles.
Petiole celery is also grown for its greenery. Like leaf varieties, it does not form thickenings on the root, but it does have large leaves and juicy, elastic, fleshy petioles, reaching four centimeters in thickness.
When growing celery various types caring for plants has a number of features Today the market offers a large assortment petiole celery seeds. Among gardeners, varieties of domestic selection are popular, which are adapted to our weather conditions, are not afraid of frost, are resistant to many common diseases, and produce juicy petioles with good taste.
Table: varieties of petiole celery included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements of the Russian Federation
| Variety name | Plant characteristics | Ripening time | Weight of one plant, kg | Productivity, kg/sq.m |
| Arthur |
|
Mid-season, period from germination to harvesting - 110 days | 0,2–0,3 | about 5.9 |
| Atlant |
|
Mid-season, period from germination to harvesting - 165 days | 0,3–0,35 | more than 3 |
| Vyacheslav |
|
Mid-season, period from germination to harvesting - 120 days | 0,15 | up to 2 |
| Groom |
|
Mid-season, period from germination to harvesting - 150 days | about 0.4 | about 3 |
| Gold |
|
Mid-season | 0,8 | up to 5 |
| Royal |
|
Mid-season, period from germination to harvesting - 95 days | 0,18 | around 5 |
| Malachite |
|
Early ripening | 1,2 | about 4 |
| Pascal |
|
Mid-season | 0,2–0,45 | about 4 |
| Tango |
|
Mid-season, the period from germination to the start of harvesting is 160–180 days | 1 | about 4 |
| Crunch |
|
Mid-season, the period from germination to the start of harvesting is 140–160 days | 0,35–0,4 | about 3.5 |
| Utah |
|
Mid-season | 0,35 | more than 3.5 |
Photo gallery: petiole varieties of celery of domestic selection
Golden - an early variety that allows you to grow juicy, full-bodied petioles with excellent taste 
Atlant celery petioles need bleaching Groom celery goes well with different varieties green salad, nuts, tomatoes, leeks, it is appropriate to serve it as a side dish for high-calorie dishes. The Royal variety is suitable not only for salad, but also for freezing or drying. The early variety Malachite provides the owner of the plot with good harvest juicy, rich green, tasty and aromatic petioles in a short time Celery petioles of the Pascal variety have an intense dark green color and reach a length of up to 20 cm Celery petioles of the Tango variety have excellent taste and aromatic qualities, retain their presentation for a long time. its cold resistance The powerful petioles of Utah celery are very aromatic and retain juiciness for a long time
Planting petiole celery
Growing petiole celery cannot be called simple matter, but if you know the features and take into account the requirements of this plant, then success will be guaranteed. Early varieties this variety can be planted directly from seeds immediately in open ground. Such sowing is carried out approximately in the second ten days of April. But you need to take into account the following risks:
- You shouldn’t count on the seedlings being friendly;
- It will be difficult to care for young plants. Considering that in the initial stage of the growing season, celery develops very slowly, it will be problematic to fight weeds, as well as protect the seedlings from weather disasters.
Most often, when growing petiole celery, they resort to seedling method, which is more guaranteed to provide fresh and healthy greens to the dinner table.
Seedlings can be grown in a greenhouse, since celery is a cold-resistant plant and its seedlings easily tolerate frost. If this is not possible, then sowing in containers that will stand on the windowsill is quite suitable.
Before sowing seeds, you need to prepare the planting container and suitable soil. As containers, you can use either special containers and trays for growing seedlings, or any available material: wooden or plastic boxes, yogurt packaging, and even plastic bags. The main thing is to provide a drainage layer in them, which will not allow excess moisture to stagnate in the containers. 
Growing in cassettes allows plants to form root system, which will penetrate the entire substrate and will not be damaged during transplantation
The soil for sowing seeds must be nutritious and must be moisture- and breathable. The following composition is perfect:
- peat;
- humus;
- coarse river sand;
- turf land
in a ratio of 3:1:0.5:1. To 10 liters of prepared and thoroughly mixed soil, add urea (1 teaspoon) and wood ash (2 cups).
To disinfect the soil mixture, a few days before sowing, boiling water is poured with the addition of potassium permanganate (a slightly pink solution).
Seed preparation
This is very important stage in growing crops. Petiole celery seeds have several specific features:
- their germination rate depends on age, but over time it does not deteriorate, but rather increases. Therefore, the most friendly shoots will appear from seeds that have been lying around for 3–4 years;
- The plant contains essential oils that prevent the seeds from quickly absorbing moisture, and the germination process can take several weeks.
Celery seeds are very similar in appearance to parsley and carrot seeds. Exist various ways accelerating seed germination:
Since celery seeds are small, after drying they can be mixed with sand and sown in the ground in this composition.
Sowing seedlings
The timing of planting petiole celery for seedlings depends on the variety and its growing season. If it is about 120 days, then sowing should be done in the first ten days of March. With proper seed preparation, seedlings will appear in 1–2 weeks. It is recommended to plant two-month-old celery seedlings in the ground.
The planting process itself is carried out completely standardly. It includes the following steps:
Further care of seedlings
When the first shoots appear, the seedlings need to be provided with good lighting and comfortable temperature(about +16 degrees). Higher temperature regime will help to stretch the seedlings. Most often, the sprouts that appear are thin and grow very slowly for the first month. After about 30 days, they will have only 1-2 true leaves. At this time, it is necessary to carry out thinning, leaving the plants at a distance of 4–5 cm from each other, adding soil or planting seedlings, if this method of cultivation was provided. 
When two leaves appear on the celery seedlings, the plants can be transplanted so that the roots have more room to grow
If conditions permit, young plants can be transplanted into a greenhouse for growing. Transplantation is carried out in furrows located at a distance of 5–6 cm, plants are also planted every 5–6 cm.
The picking is carried out carefully, planting the seedlings in individual containers at least 10 cm deep, trying not to damage the root, deepening the seedlings to the cotyledon leaves, without covering the central growth bud with soil. This procedure stimulates the development of lateral roots in seedlings, which will have a beneficial effect on the strength and endurance of the seedlings. 
When picking, the seedlings are lowered into the prepared hole, making sure that the root does not bend and remains in an upright position.
After picking, the seedlings are watered and shaded from direct contact sun rays. Optimal temperature for seedlings during this period it will be +15–16 degrees. Finding seedlings at temperatures below +10 can lead to the fact that after transplantation to permanent place such plants will bloom and will not produce juicy and elastic stems.
If, when preparing the soil mixture, the soil was filled with nitrogen fertilizers in sufficient quantities, the seedlings will have a rich color. If the color of the leaves is weak, it can be fed with urea (1 teaspoon per 10 liters of water). Such fertilizing is carried out three times during the growing of seedlings (once every two weeks), always at the root.
A week before planting in open ground, you should begin hardening off the plants. They are taken out to open air first for a few hours, then for the whole day, and just before disembarkation they leave it overnight.
Seedlings ready for planting must be strong, at least 10 cm high, have 4–5 true leaves and a root system that is well entwined with the earthen ball.
Transplanting seedlings to the garden bed
It is recommended to plant celery seedlings in the garden in mid-May, after consistently warm weather has established itself and the soil has warmed up well. 
If you do not have the opportunity to grow celery seedlings, you can purchase them, but remember: good planting material is plants whose height reaches 13–15 cm, with a strong root system and four to five leaves
Experienced gardeners note that under favorable weather conditions and the seedlings are ready, it is possible to plant them in the beds earlier. Plants planted at such a time often produce the best harvest. But with early planting, there is a risk that the petiole celery will produce flower stalks.
The site for planting petiole celery is selected and prepared in advance. Preference should be given to open sunny place with well-fertilized soil of neutral acidity. In poor, dry soil you will get plants with thin, fibrous, possibly hollow petioles.
For autumn digging per 1 sq. meter contribute
- humus or compost (10 kg);
- ash (1 cup);
- superphosphate (1 tablespoon).
If necessary, lime the soil. A bed prepared in this way in the spring only needs to be loosened. Good predecessors for petiole celery would be
- tomatoes;
- cabbage;
- cucumbers;
- zucchini;
- pumpkin;
- salad;
- legumes;
- spinach.
It is not advisable to plant celery after
- potatoes;
- corn;
- parsnip;
- parsley;
- carrots.
Petiole celery can be used as a compacting crop for
- tomatoes;
- legumes;
- any types of cabbage;
- Luke.
Celery goes well next to cabbage in the same bed These vegetables will benefit from such proximity, because celery has strong smell, which will repel many pests.
The scheme for planting seedlings in open ground will depend on varietal characteristics: height of the bush, spreading of the rosette. Minimum distance there will be 25 cm between rows and between plants in a row. For planting petiole varieties with a high spreading rosette, it is more reasonable to choose a 50x40 cm pattern. 
Self-bleaching varieties of petiole celery should be planted in the garden bed so that there is a distance of 25 cm between the seedlings. Seedlings of varieties that will need to be bleached are best planted in furrows at a distance of 30 cm from each other
The transplant is carried out as follows:
For weak seedlings, you can organize a mini-greenhouse from a cut plastic bottle right in the garden bed
How to care for celery in open ground
Further care plant management is simple, fits within the framework of standard rules of agricultural technology for cultivating any garden crop:
- Watering is carried out based on the needs of the plant and weather conditions. Celery needs quite a lot of water to grow well. The norm for watering a plant in dry weather is about 20 liters per 1 square meter. meter. But excessive waterlogging, leading to stagnation of moisture, as well as drying out of the top layer of soil, will negatively affect the quality and yield of petioles. With a lack of moisture, the middle part of the stem can become fibrous, cracked and empty, and waterlogging provokes the development of fungal infections that initially affect the leaves and then the petioles of the plant;
- Compaction of the top layer of soil should not be allowed. Its loosening is carried out after each watering or rain. The depth of loosening the beds with young plants is 5–6 cm, the soil around adult bushes is loosened deeper - 15 cm.
To prevent moisture evaporation and provide the plant roots with more oxygen, immediately after planting celery, the soil around it should be mulched with peat, sawdust, mown grass or straw. Juicy and thick celery petioles can only be obtained if the plant grows continuously throughout the growing season. Stunted growth may be caused by lack of moisture, nutrients or compaction of the top layer of soil - then the plant does not receive enough oxygen.
Features of feeding petiole celery
Petiole celery actively responds to fertilization. To feed the plant, you can use humus, manure, ash, and mineral complexes. A feature of feeding petiole celery is that when choosing fertilizers, they choose formulations in which nitrogen and potassium are present in approximately equal proportions.
Table: “summer menu” for celery
| Timing of fertilizing | View | Compound | Peculiarities |
| Two weeks after planting seedlings or a month after emergence of seedlings direct sowing seeds in open ground | Root, dissolved fertilizers | Mullein infusion in a ratio of 1:10 + potassium sulfate (10 g per bucket of solution) | After fertilizing, water the plant clean water to prevent burns of leaves and petioles |
| 3 weeks after the first | Root, dry fertilizers | Ammonium nitrate (10 g) + superphosphate (30 g) + potassium sulfate (20 g) per 1 sq. meter | Fertilizers are embedded shallowly in the ground in the root zone using a hoe |
| 3 weeks after the second | Similar to the second | Recommended for poor soils | |
At the stage of increasing leaf and stem mass, celery needs increased nitrogen fertilizing Bleaching petioles
The main feature of caring for petiole celery is the procedure for bleaching the petioles. As a result of its implementation, the shoots become not only lighter, but also much tastier, the bitterness disappears from them. This work needs to be done 2-3 weeks before harvesting. Whitening can be done in various ways:
The leaf plates in both the first and second cases must remain free.
Owners of garden plots often avoid growing stalked celery precisely because high-quality petioles can only be obtained after a bleaching procedure, which for many is complex and difficult to perform. Recently, self-bleaching varieties of this crop have appeared on the seed market - Zolotoy, Malachite, Tango, which we described above. It should be taken into account that in order to achieve the self-bleaching effect, celery bushes of the indicated varieties should grow at a distance of no more than 25 cm from each other.
Video: how to properly grow petiole celery
Growing celery at home
Like many others spices, petiole celery can be grown at home on a windowsill or balcony. The simplest and most easily accessible way is to obtain petioles and greens from celery stalks. In this case planting material celery stalks that you purchased in a store or grew on your plot will serve. Celery shoots are attached to a stalk, which is usually not used for food. It should be fresh, elastic, without stains, mechanical damage and traces of rot. The stalk is cut at the base to a height of approximately 3–4 cm. 
Before planting, the celery stalk is inspected for any characteristic damage.
The cut stalk needs to be germinated. To do this, it is placed in a container with water. room temperature, immersing the bottom of the stalk about 0.5 cm in water. To speed up germination, you can add a few drops of any root formation stimulator to the water. The container is placed in a bright place, but not in direct sunlight. The water is changed daily. 
Celery stalk produces roots and new greens in 40–50% of cases
In about a week, young greenery will appear from the old dried cuttings. This is a signal that the plant is ready to be transplanted into the ground. The soil is prepared in the same way as for growing seedlings. The landing container can be an ordinary flower pot. Planting a sprouted stalk is carried out as follows:
In order to organize proper and competent care for a planted plant, it is necessary to carry out basic caring activities in a timely manner:
- Water the plant regularly but moderately, avoiding stagnation of moisture. This is one of important conditions for the growth of succulent petioles;
- the top layer of soil must be periodically loosened to ensure air access to the roots of the plant;
- in late autumn and winter it is necessary to organize additional lighting. For this you can use fluorescent lamps or special phytolamps;
- Every 20 days, celery is fed with available fertilizers: a complex of minerals, an infusion of wood ash.
In about a month, you will be able to harvest the first harvest of vitamin-rich petioles and green leaves, which will be an excellent addition to your winter diet. The petioles will most likely not be as large as when grown in open ground, but they will have enough juiciness and usefulness.
Diseases and pests characteristic of petiole celery
There is an opinion that celery is a crop that is rarely affected by disease. If you do not comply with basic agrotechnical requirements and ignore preventive measures, then the plant’s immunity will be sharply reduced, and this will lead to the plant’s defenselessness against attacks from aggressive microorganisms. To ensure that celery does not get sick and is resistant to pathogens, it is necessary to pay due attention to basic preventive measures, which include the following:
- proper preparation and mandatory disinfection of seeds, since many pathogens are transmitted through planting material;
- strict adherence to crop rotation. Celery can be returned to its old place no earlier than after three years;
- timely removal and destruction of plant residues;
- regular removal of weeds not only in the celery bed, but also in the surrounding area, since pathogens of a number of diseases thrive in weeds and easily migrate to cultivated plants;
- timely liming of acidic soil;
- mandatory application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers to the site;
- avoiding dense plantings;
- destruction of diseased plants.
Compliance with these measures is especially important when growing celery greens, since the use chemicals undesirable; their use is resorted to only in cases of mass infection and severe development of the disease.
Table: diseases of petiole celery
| Name of the disease | Signs |
| Cercospora | The appearance of irregular or round spots on the leaves. Over time, they acquire a purple tint. The affected parts of the plant dry out. |
| Septoria |
|
| Powdery mildew | White powdery coating on aboveground parts plants, rotting of leaves and stems |
| Fomoz |
|
| White coating on vegetable tissues, which leads to softening, browning and rotting | |
| Rust on leaves | Formation of red-brown pads on bottom side leaf plate. The leaves turn yellow and dry out, the petioles lose their presentation |
Photo gallery: symptoms of celery diseases
Rust appears as red-brown spots with an orange border on the leaves of the plant. Septoria, also called celery leaf spot or late leaf burn, is an extremely harmful disease that often manifests itself in fairly large areas. 
Plants with cercospora blight develop poorly, their leaves turn yellow and dry out. White rot causes significant losses of celery and the death of testes during the growing season. 
For prevention powdery mildew it is necessary to use disinfected seeds, destroy plant residues, and carry out deep autumn plowing of the soil
Celery pests
Petiole celery can be attacked by harmful insects. To ensure good harvest quality, it is important to identify the problem in a timely manner and develop a plan to deal with uninvited guests.
Table: celery pests
| Why is the pest dangerous? | Control measures | |
| Sucks the juice out of the plant, as a result the leaves curl, the petioles are shortened, and the plant slows down its growth. |
|
|
| Fly larvae settle in the petioles of the crop. Leaves turn red or yellow and droop in the sun | ||
| The leaves curl, wrinkle, the plant slows down, and may die. |
Photo gallery: main pests of petiole celery
Celery pests are often the main carriers of pathogens. To prevent insects from planting celery in the garden bed or next to it, you can plant nasturtium, marigolds or thyme. The smell of these plants repels many pests.
Proper harvesting guarantees long-term storage
Petiole celery can be stored for quite a long time, provided that appropriate conditions are provided and the petioles are collected correctly. When harvesting, you need to pay attention to the following nuances:
- the petiole variety of celery is more sensitive to temperature drops, so it is better to harvest in September-October, before frost sets in;
- It is not recommended to keep the plant in the garden for longer than specified in the recommendations for growing this variety. Otherwise, the petioles will become coarser and become fibrous;
- cleaning is carried out carefully, avoiding mechanical damage. It is in injured areas that root crops will rot and deteriorate;
- leaves must be cut off immediately after digging up the root crop;
- For root vegetables intended for long-term storage, you can leave the roots and then dig them into damp sand in the cellar.
- The harvested crop must be thoroughly dried and only then stored.
Harvest must be thoroughly dried and only then stored How to properly store celery
If celery stalks are planned to be eaten or processed in the near future, then they are carefully wrapped in cling film and sent to the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. For longer storage, gardeners use various methods:
Video: harvesting and storing petiole celery
Celery is a very healthy vegetable crop. And it doesn’t matter whether you grow petiole, root or leaf celery on your plot. The main thing is that these plants will bring you real benefits. After all, they were raised with care and love!
Dill is the most common spicy plant. But in order for its greens to please the eye, and the taste and aroma to delight our receptors, a minimum set of agrotechnical knowledge is necessary. And it all starts with...
The most useful vegetable plant, rich in vitamins and microelements, is petiole celery. It is used in their diet by people who lead a healthy lifestyle and want to lose weight. excess weight. Every gardener can grow petiole celery. The main thing is that the basic requirements for the planting process and further care are met.
Initially, petiole celery was grown as medicine and only in our time they began to actively use it in cooking. This rare vegetable plant has a specific aroma, but its fresh greens are loved by many gourmets. The numerous beneficial properties of this plant have encouraged gardeners to grow celery on their summer cottage, and culinary specialists - to prepare various dishes in which the vegetable acts as a side dish or seasoning.
An open area for planting celery seeds must be prepared in advance. The soil should be fertile, loose, with excellent drainage properties. For this land plot you need to dig it up, adding mullein or rotted compost to the soil.
Preparatory work must also be carried out with planting material. It is better to plant seeds for seedlings in the first week of March. Earlier planting may affect the quality of the emerging seedlings; they are quite capricious crops. Containers for planting seeds will need to be shallow but spacious.
Seeds of petiole celery have one interesting property - the “older” they become in age, the greater their germination rate becomes. Experienced summer residents and gardeners advise purchasing seeds in reserve and keeping them for 3-4 years before planting. From such seeds it will be possible to grow stronger and higher quality seedlings.
Petiole celery is distinguished by a variety of varieties that can be selected according to the method of cultivation (for example, for home use), appearance, taste, and yield.
Prepared wooden boxes or plastic containers must be filled with soil mixture.
Using a sprayer, you need to moisten the soil a little, then scatter celery seeds over its surface.
Each seed should be lightly pressed into the soil by one to 2 millimeters, and then cover the container with film or glass to create greenhouse conditions.
Seed germination will last approximately 15-20 days. All this time must be devoted to proper care of future vegetable plants:
- Daily water procedures in the form of spraying and watering.
- Maintaining a constant room temperature (approximately 22-25 degrees Celsius).
- Regular ventilation throughout the day (2-3 times a day).
This care must be continued after the appearance of young sprouts, as well as until the celery seedlings are transplanted into open ground (after the appearance of 2-3 full-fledged leaves). Petiole celery grows very slowly, so it will take a lot of effort and patience to achieve your goal.
Before planting seedlings in the beds, they must become well established. Vegetable crops will not survive cold nights, much less overnight spring frosts. That is why you should not rush to transfer the seedlings to your summer cottage. The most optimal time for this is the beginning or middle of May.
Seedlings are planted at a distance of approximately 25 centimeters from each other, and the same width is left for row spacing. It is advisable to protect plants below 5 centimeters in height with a plastic cover (from a plastic bottle or glass with the bottom and top of the bottle cut off). Taller seedlings do not need such covering. After this, the entire surface of the soil in the beds with petiole celery must be covered with a mulch layer (for example, straw or fine sawdust). At this initial stage, the first fertilizing of vegetable plants should be done. Liquid fertilizers can be applied to the soil along with irrigation water.
Among the numerous varieties of petiole celery, some have been bred whose seeds do not require planting as seedlings. Seeds of the Utah and Golden Feather varieties can be planted directly on open beds, and as young seedlings grow, thinning is carried out. The distance between grown and mature seedlings should not be less than thirty centimeters.
The vegetable plant needs regular moderate watering. The volume of irrigation water may vary depending on weather conditions, the presence of a protective mulch layer and the needs of the crop itself. Celery will not tolerate excess moisture in the soil, so water should not stagnate in the beds, but the top layer of soil should not be allowed to dry out. The soil should always be slightly moist.
Celery needs regular organic fertilizers, which are applied to the soil in liquid form three times a month.
When growing celery varieties that bleach on their own, it is very important to regularly apply hilling. As the vegetable plant grows, hilling is carried out approximately once a month. The base of the celery from which the leaf part grows cannot be covered with soil, so the hilling process must be carried out carefully.
Problems and difficulties when growing celery
Petiole celery is one of the most capricious vegetable crops. Its cultivation requires patience, attention and compliance with all care recommendations. With minimal violations of the basic requirements, problems may arise with the development and growth of the vegetable plant, as well as difficulties due to the appearance of pests.
- Insufficient soil moisture during watering will cause the middle part of the celery stalks to become unsuitable for consumption. This will not be noticeable in the appearance of the crop; the growth and development of the plant will not differ from other specimens.
- When low-quality seedlings (overgrown or weak) are planted in open beds, flower stalks are formed that cannot be eaten. For planting, it is necessary to select only healthy and strong seedlings.
- Rotting of the core of a vegetable fruit occurs due to the appearance of bacteria. For a long time external condition the vegetable plant remains normal, although decay processes occur quite actively.
- The qualitative development of celery petioles also depends on many factors. For example, insufficient irrigation water, irregular watering, prolonged hot weather and dry climate conditions can lead to cracks in the petiole of the plant.
- Cracking of petioles also occurs due to an excess of nitrogen in the soil.
- For the qualitative development of celery it is necessary high humidity, which some pests really like. The most common of them are snails and slugs. Timely clearing of weeds from the beds will help reduce the likelihood of their occurrence.
Tasty and healthy petiole celery can appear on every table if you put maximum effort and patience into growing it.
4802 02/13/2019 7 min.Petiole celery is now often included in various dishes, especially salads. You can eat it raw or after heat treatment. Petiole celery is considered a very tasty and healthy plant.
How to plant seedlings
If a variety of petiole celery has a long growth period, then it is better to obtain it using seedlings. It is usually placed on the windowsill. Seedlings are planted in late February or early March. If the seeds are not prepared in advance, the seeds will take more than 20 days to germinate. Usually the seeds are soaked in immunocytophyte. The solution is prepared at the rate of 1 tablet of substance per 20 ml of water.
A clean box is prepared in advance and soil is poured into it. The land is prepared in advance. Mix soil from the garden and humus in equal proportions, add a little sand. Now the ground needs to be watered, and a day later a layer of snow is placed on top.
How to care
Now it is important to create proper care after transplanting seedlings. All weeds must be removed and the soil loosened. If germinated seeds were sown, you need to remove non-woven material. If growth is stunted, bolting will eventually occur prematurely.
You need to thin out celery for the first time, as soon as 4 to 6 leaves appear. The distance between the plants should be left at 20 cm. The next time you need to thin out the celery is after 10 days. As a result, the distance will become 40 cm.
The video explains when to sow petiole celery for seedlings, planting dates:
The soil should not be allowed to become compact. Therefore, loosening is mandatory. The depth of loosening should be about 6 cm. But if there has been heavy rain, then the soil is loosened to 15 cm. It is advisable to apply a little fertilizer when loosening.
Top dressing
Watering
The plant needs to be watered every week. For one square meter you will need 20 liters of water. But if there are few rainy days, then the amount of water is increased to 25 liters. There is usually little rain in August and September. When watering, try not to let water get on the leaves themselves. If this is allowed, fungus and other diseases can infect the plant.
Light and hilling
If you want to achieve from petioles pleasant aroma and taste, then try to keep them away from direct sunlight. Thus, the amount of essential oils will decrease, the leaves will become light, and the taste will be pleasant. If you hill up the plant, it will quickly acquire a light shade. When hilling, the soil should be poured gradually. Please note that you only need to hill up with damp soil. First, the plant is hilled up so that it does not fall.
The second time to half the stem, and the third time almost to the top of the head. But this method of hilling has one drawback: the petioles may acquire a not very pleasant taste of earth. Therefore, hilling during the growth period is not recommended. It is better to dig in the greenhouse after harvesting. But in this case, the yield of celery will decrease. 
But you can use another method. In the first weeks of September, the plant is usually already fully formed, so you can take fabric and tie the stems. Now the soil can be collected under the plant. The petioles need to be wrapped in wrapping paper and tied with twine. The wrapper should not cover the leaves, but end at the edge. Usually the taste of celery is improved 3 weeks before harvesting.
Celery, like other plants, is susceptible to pests. Therefore, you need to start fighting them in time:
- Borscht fly. She is able to start laying eggs at the end of May. These pests can spend the entire winter in the soil. If you find a borscht fly, then next year You can't plant vegetables there.
- carrot fly. The larvae of this fly can damage the roots of the plant. Therefore, it is important to carry out weeding on time. Feeding and loosening are also done on time.
- carrot psyllid. This living creature is capable of drinking all the juice from celery. Externally, the plant will look depressed.
- bean aphid. This pest is considered the largest. If you find this pest, then the celery must be treated with a decoction of tomato or potato tops.
- Early burn. This phenomenon usually occurs with a sharp temperature change. You will see spots on the leaves with a brown border. If the humidity is increased, the stain will acquire a purple coating. You can get rid of the pest within 30 minutes using a temperature of 48 degrees.
The video explains when to plant petiole celery for seedlings:
What time does boarding take place?
Whatever variety of celery you take, they all have a long growing season. Celery seeds are usually sown in April: from April 20 to April 25. Transplantation into open ground is done in May: May 15-20.
Those who want to have celery on their table every year can start sowing it. Observing simple rules, you will achieve good results.
Many people dream of a summer cottage where they can relax in the summer, be alone with nature, admiring the beauty and breathing clean air no emissions. Often in dreams there is also a small garden where you can grow vegetables, beans and herbs. But not everyone knows that you can grow petiole celery yourself and enjoy its taste in various prepared dishes.
Description and main characteristics
Celery is one of the most useful plants. Herbalists consider this plant an integral component necessary for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Often included in weight loss products and recipes.
This herbaceous plant has a number of beneficial properties, contains a large number of vitamins and minerals. It also has a subtle but rich taste. For its beneficial qualities, this plant is valued by lovers of delicious food all over the world. More recently, celery was grown only for medicine, but today it is present in many gourmet dishes.
The range of effects of this plant on the human body is very wide.
The root crop is enriched with the following features:
- raises tone;
- able to increase mental and physical performance;
- brings appetite back to normal;
- relieves pain;
- is a diuretic.
Varieties of root vegetables
This plant has several varieties. They touch external structure. There are three types of celery:
- sheet;
- root;
- petiole.
This plant can be a beneficial addition to any dish without losing its beneficial qualities during cooking. Fortunately, celery is a dietary product and does not harm your figure.
Cultivation of stem celery occurs for the sake of juicy petioles-stems. Currently, the petioles are white or green. The difference in colors does not refer to varieties of varieties - the same species can be different color. The coloring is influenced by growing methods. Eg, White color appears if celery is hilled by placing the stems deep in the soil.
As a rule, celery is planted in the garden in May, towards the end; in warm areas you can start planting it already in the middle of the month. By the time the seedlings are transplanted into open ground, the sprouts should be 5-7 cm high. It is important to ensure that the sprouts are not just long, but strong and alive.
White varieties of celery are planted in holes on a bed with a distance of 25x25 cm. If the choice fell on non-self-bleaching varieties, then a trench is suitable for planting, in which case the marking should be 30 cm between seedlings.
It is necessary to plant the plant deep in a trench, then, according to experienced gardeners, white stems will form when ripe. If the planting took place in a regular bed and the stem grows green, then it is necessary to carry out a number of measures a month before harvesting.
The fact is that the color of the stem of petiole celery depends on the level of illumination; a white tint appears in the root vegetable if it grows in a dark place. Therefore, around September, when the celery grows 30 cm, you need to:
- gather the leaves up into a bunch and tie them loosely with soft tape;
- wrap the stem itself in wrapping material (from the soil itself to the leaves);
- secure the wrapper with twine or tape;
- leave for 3 weeks, then dig up and free from fixing materials.
The celery is ready to be scooped up. Anything that will not be immediately consumed as food should be buried in moistened sand in a cool place - you will get a good fertilizer.
Various unnecessary thick paper can be used to preserve for the winter. Also suitable plastic bottles or pipes, as well as Penofol and straw. You need to fill the bottles/pipes with small sawdust or dry leaves.
Celery is a vegetable crop with a bittersweet taste and exquisite spicy aroma. All parts of the plant are used in cooking - leaves, roots and even stems. They are added to soups and main dishes, salads, sauces and seasonings. In addition to its taste, celery is valued for its high content of vitamins and minerals. The plant is an important source of vitamins A, C, B, K, PP, magnesium, sodium, iron, calcium, phosphorus. Its regular use helps strengthen the immune system and protective functions body.
Growing petiole celery has its own characteristics. Although in general the plant cannot be called capricious and is adapted to various climatic conditions, ensuring proper care will allow you to get really juicy and aromatic petioles.
Optimal climatic conditions
The most favorable temperature for the growth of celery is 15–20 ˚С, however, some varieties of this crop can withstand even slight frosts. Particularly resistant to low temperatures are varieties with red colored stems. The optimal time for sowing is spring. The soil should be moderately moist, loose, drained, the area should be open and well lit. Soils with high acidity must be limed before planting young plants.
Petiole celery grows well in soil with a high nitrogen content. To enrich the soil with minerals, the area for planting celery is fertilized with humus in the fall.
Main varieties
Choosing a variety is an important task, because the yield depends on it, appearance and taste qualities of celery. The following varieties have proven themselves well:
- "Atlant". Ripening period – 150 – 170 days. A distinctive feature is the glossy surface of the stem with slight ribbing. From one bush it is possible to collect 300 - 400 g of petioles.
To obtain fresh petioles for consumption throughout the summer-autumn season, you need to use seeds with for different periods maturation.
Sowing seedlings and diving
By growing the crop using the seedling method, it is possible to obtain a harvest in the first year. For this purpose, use boxes filled with a nutrient mixture (leaf soil, peat, humus and sand). It is better to sow in the third ten days of February - the first ten days of March, adhering to the following sequence:
- Soak the seeds in advance to speed up germination.
- Distribute the seeds evenly over the surface of the ground.
- Sprinkle thin layer nutrient soil mixture.
- Cover with a plastic bag.
- Place in a room with a temperature of 20 – 22 °C.
- After the first shoots appear, the polyethylene will need to be removed and the temperature reduced to 15 °C.
Be sure to regularly remove weeds in seed boxes and small, weakened shoots. The rest need to be looked after - watered through a sieve, hardened.
With the appearance of the second true leaf, the seedlings are pruned. When replanting shoots into separate cups, it is important to ensure that the outlet is not covered with soil. Plants in separate containers should be placed on a bright windowsill to speed up the growth of young leaves.
If the seedlings are already ready, the most difficult stage has been completed. Further care of the bushes will not be a big hassle.
Landing in the ground
A few days before transplanting into open ground, celery seedlings must be taken out to an unheated veranda to adapt to new lighting and temperature conditions. As a rule, replanting is carried out in April - May, when spring frosts are already behind us.
Petiole celery is planted in deep trenches (from 30 cm) according to the 20x30 pattern. However, some self-bleaching varieties are suitable for planting in a regular garden bed. When planting, it is important to ensure that the rosette rises slightly above the ground surface. As the bushes grow, you will need to add soil to the furrows.
It is important to constantly ensure that the soil around the plants does not dry out. But overdoing it is also dangerous - the shoots can rot. It is necessary to weed the bed regularly, and as the crust forms.
A month after transplantation, nitrogen fertilizing is necessary. Vegetable crops are responsive to liquid organic fertilizers and nettle infusion.
When green shoots reach a height of 30 cm, they are bleached. To do this you should:
- Gather the leaves into a bunch and tie them neatly with a cut piece soft fabric or twine thread.
- Wrap the bunches with thick paper, making sure that it adheres well to the soil.
- Leave the leaves uncovered.
- Secure the paper with rope or tape.
- After 3 weeks, dig up the bushes along with the roots, without removing the cover, and place them in the cellar in damp sand.
- Straw can be used for hilling.
Bleaching makes the petioles sweet, eliminates unpleasant bitterness, and helps to acquire a delicate taste.
Video instructions for growing petiole celery
Diseases and main pests
Petiole celery is affected by the following types of diseases:
- black bacterial spot;
- purple rot of root crops;
- fungal infection of the base of the stem;
- tobacco mosaic virus;
- Root collar rot.
As a rule, the cause of rot is stagnation of water as a result of excessive watering. Pests can also be carriers of diseases:
- carrot fly;
- hogweed fly;
- slugs;
- snails;
- scoops.
Strict adherence to recommended agricultural techniques will help protect the plant from pests: weeding, watering, diving, crop rotation. Also good method protection against diseases and pests is mixed planting celery with other vegetables and herbs. Petiole celery goes well in the garden with cabbage, tomatoes and beans. But planting next to parsnips is not recommended - both crops can be affected by the hogweed fly.
Harvesting
Self-bleaching celery is ready for harvest 11 to 16 weeks after transplanting into the ground, and trench celery can be cut as needed. But even here it is important not to miss the moment of harvesting, otherwise the stems will become fibrous. The entire crop must be removed from the garden before the first frost, the estimated time frame is early to mid-October. To do this, dig up the bush along with the rhizome with a shovel or pitchfork.
Celery should be stored in a cool place.
Caring for this vegetable crop doesn't take much time. All that is required is watering as needed, fertilizing and, most importantly, hilling. By periodically sprinkling the bushes in the trench with soil, you can achieve excellent results - white and pleasant-tasting petioles, full of minerals.