How to plant celery root for seedlings. Growing celery root seedlings

For lovers of celery, it's time to plant seeds for seedlings.

Celery is leaf, root and petiole. For gardeners in the middle lane, root celery is of greatest interest (petioled celery is almost never grown in Russia).
Leaf celery produces a large number of tender, fragrant leaves on rather thin roots. There are varieties with curly leaves. The root of leaf celery is not large.
In root celery, the leaves are larger and tougher, they are much smaller, but a round large root is formed, reaching 400-800 g or more. Its flesh is white, tender, very tasty, it is well stored in winter. Root crops of small sizes can be driven out at home in winter for greenery.
celery root is a real delicacy. Anyone who has ever tried celery salad will surely look for seeds to grow it on their site. Celery root, in addition to good taste, has a whole bunch of healing properties, but it is especially useful for the elderly. Celery has diuretic and laxative properties, prevents the formation of stones. It is used for obesity, it has a good effect on the cardiovascular and nervous system, improves sleep, metabolism, helps with headaches, increases physical and mental performance.
celery root- a plant with a long growth period (170-180 days), so it is grown only through seedlings. You cannot grow a good large root crop without seedlings. Leaf celery has a shorter development period, it can be sown directly in the beds, but its yield is much less than when grown through seedlings.

Be careful with the choice of seeds so that you are not disappointed during the harvest. The most high-quality planting material is considered to be imported, and from domestic seeds, the seeds of "Russian size" and "Aelita" deserve attention. Due to the peculiarities of the Russian climate, it is better to take only early varieties of celery that can ripen in 120-150 days. For use in food, it is more convenient to grow varieties with large root crops. Don't forget to check the expiration date of the seeds!

You can safely sow any variety of leaf celery, they do not have obvious differences. Root celery has few varieties. Given that the Maxim and Delicacy varieties have medium-sized root crops, they can also be grown on heavy soils.

VARIETIES OF CELERY ROOT

MIDDLE EARLY

Diamond

After a growing season of 150 days, round, smooth root crops ripen, weighing an average of 200 g. Diamant celery root pulp perfectly retains its white color even after cooking. The variety is distinguished by powerful dark green leaves and resistance to bolting.

cascade

Technical ripeness of root crops comes in 150 days from the moment of emergence of shoots. Ripe root crops have a rounded shape, medium size and white flesh, the color of which does not change even after cooking. Lateral roots are low.

Apple

In this variety, the leaves, collected in a small rosette, have a pleasant aroma. The ripening period of root crops can last from 90 to 160 days (depending on weather conditions and agricultural practices). In ripe, smooth, rounded root crops, the flesh has a snow-white color and is rich in sugars. The weight of root crops varies from 80 g to 140 g. Up to 5 kg of root crops can be obtained from one square meter of the garden. The root celery of the Apple variety is resistant to diseases and keeping quality.

Root Gribovsky

Root crops gain commercial weight in 120-150 days, while the mass can vary from 65 to 135 g. The flesh of the roots is light with a few yellow spots. Rounded roots of the Kornevoy Gribovsky variety have excellent taste, high aromaticity and can be eaten both fresh and dried.

Varieties of medium ripeness

Albin

From the first shoots, 120 days pass until the technical ripeness of celery. Root crops have a rounded shape, with a diameter of about 12 cm, the white skin in the upper part of the spine has a greenish tint. The main part of the root crop of the Albin variety protrudes above the ground, the root system grows only in the lower part. Albin has an excellent yield, the roots can be consumed fresh and cooked, the white pulp is resistant to the formation of voids.

Strongman

After 170 days after germination, the root crops gain weight up to 400 g. The root crops are large, rounded, white in color with a slight yellow tint. Snow-white pulp is rich in sugars and mineral salts, has a bright aroma. The leaves form a semi-raised rosette, the lateral roots are low in the Strongman variety.

Egor

From the time the first shoots appear, 180 days pass until the full ripening of the root crops. Smooth, large rounded root crops of the Yegor variety have a yellowish-gray skin color and white flesh. The variety is valued for the high content of sugars in root crops, rich aroma and high marketability.

Giant

A variety with a vertical rosette, large leaves and large fragrant roots, on which thin roots are located at the bottom. Rounded root crops reach a mass of 700 g, their skin has a light beige color, and the dense juicy pulp is white. The Giant variety is valued for its high yield, weighty root crops with a pleasant aroma and sweet taste.

Late varieties

Anita

The growing season lasts an average of 160 days. The variety has upright leaves and long petioles. Root crops weighing about 400 g are oval or round, with a light beige skin and snow-white pulp, which does not change its color during heat treatment. Due to their high palatability, Anita root crops are used for cooking, for fresh consumption and for freezing. Also, the variety is valued for resistance to shooting and high yield.

Maksim

In this variety of root celery, ripeness occurs 200 days after the appearance of young shoots. On rounded root crops, a small number of lateral roots are formed. The dense pulp of creamy white color has a delicate spicy taste, the mass of root crops reaches 500 g. The Maxim variety is excellent for long-term storage.

What does celery love?
1. Light. Demanding on light, so it is grown in a lit area; in shading, celery does not produce a large root crop.
2. Moisture. It grows well in high places, does not tolerate flooding. However, it requires sufficient soil moisture during the entire growth period. On dry soils, celery grows poorly, root crops are dry and rough.
3. This plant is cold-resistant, prefers moderate temperature (12-20 °С) for growth and development.
4. Fertile soil. It gives a large harvest only on loose and fertilized soils. It is necessary to add organic matter (humus and compost) or peat to the soil mixtures.

seeds
Seeds of celery are small, ribbed, oval, gray or brown-brown.
Germination lasts only 1-2 years, so it is better to sow them fresh or check for germination.
Celery is a culture of a long period of growth (170-180 days), the seeds germinate very slowly (on the 15-18th day), so celery is grown only through seedlings. Root celery is sown for seedlings. Root celery is sown early - the first among vegetables. For subsequent cultivation in the ground (at first - under the film), sowing is carried out from February 15-25 to March 5(leaf celery for seedlings is sown on March 20-25).

Preparation of seeds for sowing includes:

sorting; germination check. Normal seed germination should be 70%, but not less than 50%;
- disinfection and simultaneous removal of the shell from the essential oil, which prevents the germination of seeds. To do this, the seeds are kept (stirring) for 30 minutes. in water heated to 50-52 °C.
- accelerating germination treatments. Barbating (I often use soaking in biostimulants) or soaking for 10 hours in an Epinextra solution (2 drops per 125 ml of boiled water at 23-25 ° C). The container with the solution and seeds is not closed so that the seeds do not suffocate.
- germination, approximately within 3 days. (does not have to be done).

Growing seedlings

The soil mixture should be loose permeable loamy and peaty (but not too acidic), rich in humus.

Soil composition: peat, humus with the addition of coarse sand.
Container selection. As a container, I use square milk bags laid on their side, or small sowing boxes.
Sowing. Celery seeds are small, germinate only in the light (!). Therefore, I spend the sowing of celery in a special way.
I cover the container with watered soil with a layer of 1 cm of snow, compact it and in rows (it’s more convenient to take care of it) after 3-4 cm I sow the seeds (less often). After sowing, I do not sprinkle the seeds with soil (!): The snow will melt, and the water will slightly draw some of the seeds into the soil. Most of the seeds will remain on the surface, this is not scary, later they can be powdered with sifted soil. I cover the container with a film and put it in a warm place (necessarily in the light!). Air the crops daily by turning the film over, moisten the drying soil from the sprayer. In the conditions of such a mini-greenhouse, seedlings of root celery grow strong and healthy. Swollen and hatched seeds will sprout on the 5-7th day, while when sown with unprepared dry seeds, seedlings appear on the 15-18th day. After that, I remove the film from the crops, and after 2-3 days I powder the seedlings (!), But I do not sprinkle it with sifted nutrient soil or peat. Seedlings must be kept in the light.

Light. Seedlings after germination are best illuminated, since sowing is carried out early, when daylight hours
short. The first 5-7 days (and not 2-3 days, as for most vegetables), additional lighting is carried out around the clock. On subsequent days, fluorescent lamps are turned on only in the morning and evening, and on cloudy days or on a poorly lit window, all day. The first 30-40 days, the seedlings grow slowly: shoots are long and thin, and the less light, the more they stretch.

Temperature for the growth of celery seedlings should be 15-18 ° C.
Water the seedlings with water at room temperature. The first time watering is carried out 4-5 days after germination (at an earlier date, if necessary, if the soil is dry, you can sprinkle it with water). Then watering is carried out every week. I water the seedlings very carefully, first with an eyedropper, and then with 1-3 tbsp. l. under the root. Abundant watering should be avoided. After watering, always (very carefully) loosen the soil. 2-3 days before transplanting seedlings to a permanent place, it is watered abundantly.

Transfer. When 1-2 true leaves develop (about 25-30 days after germination), I advise one celery sprout to dive into small glasses: from milk bags. My observations have shown that picking can be carried out later, at any age, since celery is easily transplanted. When picking, you need to pinch the tip of the root so that it develops better, and when planting, deepen the stem in the soil by 1/2-1/3 of its length. After picking at root celery, the bottom of the stem quickly begins to thicken, and without picking this will happen later. In leaf celery, picking stimulates tillering. Picked seedlings have a squat and strong stem.
If you grow seedlings in boxes (without picking), then it must be thinned out: first, all late-grown and stunted seedlings are removed, and later - several plants at once, so that there is a distance of 5-7 cm between the remaining ones (pour into the vacated places priming). Without thinning, the plants are very stretched and are weak.

Seedling nutrition. The first feeding is carried out 2 weeks after picking (thinning), when the plants take root. If the seedling has a pale green, yellowish leaf, it is better to feed with urea (1/2 tsp per 1 liter of water). With normal growth, plants are fertilized with complex fertilizers, for example, Mortar (the same dose). You can use liquid concentrates of humic growth substances - "Ideal", "Gumi" (the dilution dose is indicated on the labels) 2 tbsp. l. on a plant.
If necessary, a second top dressing is carried out 7-10 days after the first, when the plants will have 3 true leaves, increasing the dose of fertilizers to 1 tbsp. l. for 5 liters of water. Celery responds well to sodium and potassium nitrate, they are used in the second feeding (the same dose).

hardening. Before planting in the ground, the seedlings are hardened, i.e. accustomed to natural growth conditions. If there is not enough space for seedlings on a bright window, it can be transferred to a plot and hardened in a greenhouse, taking it outside and gradually increasing the time spent in the air.
The terms of planting root celery (55-60-day-old seedlings) in the ground on the beds under the film are April 15-20, in open ground - May 5-10.
Seedlings of leaf celery (35 days old) when sown after March 25 are planted in the ground in the first decade of May (in good weather - after April 20). This is a cold-resistant plant and does not require additional cover with a film.
Standard seedlings of root celery before planting in the ground should have 5-7 leaves and a stem thickening at the bottom. Seedlings of leaf celery have practically no thickening, and there should be several leaves.

Be sure to make sure that the root does not turn out to be buried - the growth point should remain at the level of the soil. This is an important condition for growing celery root large and even, without a “lush beard” of adventitious roots. For the same purpose, leave a distance of at least 30 cm between plants and between rows.

Growing celery root will be more successful if you stick to the following. rules:

all the leaves of a growing root celery cannot be cut off, otherwise the root crop will not ripen, cut off only the extreme leaves;
hilling root celery is contraindicated - it provokes the growth of lateral roots, as a result of which the root crops lose their presentation;
when the root crop begins to thicken, to give it evenness rake the earth from the tops of the plants and carefully cut off the lateral roots with a knife;
in order for the root crop to turn out juicy, with a rich taste and aroma, the soil in the garden must be kept moist (do not flood), watering is necessary not only throughout the summer, but also until October - this way celery heads will grow better;
water the celery under the root;
until the foliage over the bed closes, you need to regularly loosen the aisles;
for good growth, root celery is recommended to be fed with a herbal solution when the seedlings in the open field start to grow, the second time they are fed with mullein infusion, the third time (until July 15) - Azofoska, the fourth time (from mid-July) - monophosphate, and when the head is tied, shed with a solution of boric acid;
over the summer, root celery needs two or three fertilizing with nitrogen fertilizers - no more is needed, otherwise the plants may be damaged by scab and septoria.

The harvest of celery grown according to all the rules can be harvested before the onset of autumn frosts, in the first decade of October. To make it more convenient to pull the root crops out of the ground, first spill the ground with water. And try not to damage the delicate skin of celery when harvesting.

The first experience of growing celery - unsuccessful

I love to grow all kinds of spicy herbs in my small plot: I not only take fresh dill, parsley, and celery from the garden in the summer, but also dry it, salt it and freeze it for the winter. By the way, I had never heard of root celery before, because no one grew it with us.

And about three years ago, some kind of fashion went right for him. Well, I also bought seeds then, deciding that this was not a troublesome business. I sowed in boxes and was very pleased when the sprouts sprouted, and immediately moved them to the sun, to the south window.

And after a while I saw the result of my haste: my seedlings shrank, withered, and, no matter how I tried to bring them back to life, they died. I had to turn to my neighbors in the country for help - they are already retired, there is a lot of time, they are not in a hurry, so they have wonderful seedlings. After this incident, we began to agree in the fall who grows what seedlings, so that later we can change, if anything. And no problem.

Well, now more specifically about my experience.

Planting root celery

I have been preparing a bed for celery since autumn. Since this culture loves black, oily soil, and I have loam in my garden, I first have to choose the soil (nothing, this is also useful - the bed will then be better saturated with oxygen, and the selected land is a good help, I pour it under the berries). Then I fill this place with a mixture of peat, sand and humus. Just before planting, I loosen the bed with a pitchfork and spill it with a weak infusion of bird droppings (2 tablespoons per 10 liters of water).

I plant plants only in the evening, so that the earth warms up better during the day, and so that direct sunlight does not fall on them during this procedure, otherwise they will instantly stretch, turn pale and then they may not move away in the garden. In general, celery seedlings are very capricious, well, the princess is right!

I make the distance between the holes approximately 20-30 cm apart. It seems that there is a lot of empty space, but then there will be expanse for celery! I tear off the main root of each seedling by a third (it is always easy to determine) in order not to take all the juices for myself. I plant deeply, sprinkle with earth to the level of the leaves - this is so that the lateral roots grow well. If cold nights suddenly happen, I will certainly cover the bed.

And I came to the conclusion that instead of a film it is better to use old sheets stretched on pegs - they absorb all the moisture. And under the film, condensate often accumulates, and heavy drops can harm weak celery.

Caring for celery root

But then, finally, the bushes begin to form, and here is a new concern: plantings constantly need watering. Water should only be warm, and it is necessary to water under the root. It is very convenient to do this from a baby watering can with a thin spout. I water celery only in the evening, in a warm soil warmed up during the day. At the same time, in buckets for watering, which I fill in the morning, I throw a few sprigs of nettle - vitamins and celery are useful.

When “barrels” begin to ripen in plants, completely extra roots appear. I carefully cut them out, the main thing here is not to touch the skin of the root crop. After pruning for 20 minutes, I do not loosen and do not water, let them dry. Then I sprinkle with loose earth, but do not spud. And in general, I don’t touch the ground around the root crops, I just loosen it slightly with an ordinary table fork.

At the same time, I cut off the side leaves, because they have already served their purpose. It is easy to recognize them - they become light, sometimes with yellowed edges, but they are quite suitable for seasoning soup, especially juicy petioles. I sometimes have a lot of them, I dry them finely chopped in the shade, and in winter everything will come in handy.

In addition, celery leaves can be used as a top dressing for currants: the smell and essential oils they contain repel aphids and ants. I insist the leaves in a large enameled pot along with tansy and nettle for two weeks, and then I spray the bushes with this infusion.

That's how much I do not like any top dressing, except for herbal ones, but celery cannot do without mullein! All summer you have to regale him with this infusion, and not just cooked, but ripe. That is, two weeks before making it, you already need to cook it so that it ferments and settles. And, again, it is not necessary to feed with pure infusion, but diluted to a dark straw color.

Now about pests. Several times I noticed on celery some petioles crawling in the recesses, either ants or insects. Just in case, I sprinkled it with a very thick infusion of wormwood (I usually prepare it for strawberries when the ubiquitous snails appear: I stuff gray-haired wormwood into a bucket, chop a little, fill it with water, insist for three days, filter without diluting). And licked all the evil spirits like a cow with her tongue!

In general, of course, you have to tinker with root celery. But then, when in October I dig up root crops, there are simply no words: strong, strong, juicy. I keep them all winter in plywood boxes with river sand, which I use in the spring to prepare the soil for seedlings. I give a lot to friends and it's nice to hear rave reviews. My daughter dries a lot of celery, she likes to add dried thinly sliced \u200b\u200bsections to the first.

Drying is also not a problem, it is possible for speed even in the oven, but store only 8 closed glass jars in the dark. In addition to amazing soups and sauces, I make medicine for the stomach from celery root: rub 50 g of roots on a fine grater, mix with dry buckwheat and leave overnight.

In the morning I breed 1 tsp. swollen cereals with celery in a glass of boiled water and drink on an empty stomach. But this is not a panacea! I just talked about how I use celery root myself. Now he is almost a favorite brainchild in my country house. I will be glad if my experience is useful to someone.

Root celery fails in many. Either it will go into color, then instead of a round root crop it will form an “octopus”. However, given some rules, growing celery becomes much easier.

I SOW root celery in early February, 70-75 days before planting seedlings in the ground, on the waning moon. There are a lot of germination inhibitors in the seeds, and in order to speed up the emergence of seedlings, I soak them on toilet paper before sowing, washing them 3-4 times a day. They peck in a week, but only if the seeds are fresh, last year's. Earlier, when I did not know this trick, I sowed two-year-old seeds - only a few sprouted. It was then that I had to use the express germination method - bubbling newly purchased seeds. As a result, after 48 hours, most of them pecked.

SEEDS WITH ROOTS I plant with a pointed stick in a nursery (balcony flower box) according to a 2 × 2 cm pattern. I make the soil loose, I bury the seeds by no more than 0.5 cm. When shoots appear, be sure to turn on the backlight. Without it, the sprouts will stretch out in a matter of days, fall down and die.

IN PHASE 1-2 REAL LEAVES dive celery into cassettes measuring 3x3x5 cm, pinching the central root (this way the root crop is larger and more tender, without fibers). I feed with complex (N, P, K) fertilizer once every 3 weeks and constantly make sure that the soil does not dry out. Do plants have enough food, I judge by the leaves. They should be intense green, not pale (starved) or bluish (overfed).

I PLANT IN THE GROUND seedlings after frost has passed. If the plants freeze slightly, they will not die, just a part will go into bloom. By the way, the same thing happened after the strong May heat. Here you can no longer count on the spine.

LANDING SCHEME- 20 × 30 cm, I try not to destroy the earthen clod and in no case do I bury the bushes. After planting, I water abundantly. Celery is sensitive to water throughout the growing season. I do not add mineral fertilizers - celery grows in beds where compost was introduced last year.

When the plants get stronger, I unravel them - I expose the hangers, several times a season I cut off the roots growing horizontally with a knife. If the leaves fall on the ground, I cut them off and use them as a seasoning for soups, vegetables, meat, and marinades.

Root crops grow most actively at the end of August and September, when the day is getting shorter. At this point, on the plants I leave only those leaves that grow vertically upwards, I cut off the rest. And as a result, quite decent root crops grow - ranging in size from a large apple to a large grapefruit (depending on the variety). In September, I cover the bed with celery with sawdust - this “fur coat” protects from frost. However, when the night temperature drops to minus 5 °, I dig out the root crops, dry them slightly in the greenhouse and put them in the cellar, sprinkled with dry sawdust.

How to grow root celery - video

Australia Swisse High Strength Celery 5000mg 50 Capsules Support…

With the right agricultural technology, you can very well harvest a good crop of large root crops, which will be much more fragrant and juicier than their store counterparts.

What should be considered when sowing seeds?

Whatever a fresh root crop has, growing it scares many gardeners. After all, it is much easier to buy, if necessary, a packaged root crop in a store and not mess around with seedlings, wondering if something worthwhile will come of it?

Be careful with the choice of seeds so that you are not disappointed during the harvest

The downside is that you cannot know what fertilizers and chemicals were used to grow store-bought root crops, and even during storage on the counter, vegetables become flabby, losing their taste. But growing celery root is actually not so troublesome.

Be careful with the choice of seeds so that you are not disappointed during the harvest. The most high-quality planting material is considered to be imported, and from domestic seeds, the seeds of "Russian size" and "Aelita" deserve attention. Due to the peculiarities of the Russian climate, it is better to take only those that can ripen in 120-150 days. For use in food, it is more convenient to grow varieties with large root crops. Don't forget to check the expiration date of the seeds!

Videos growing celery

The soil

The most successful harvest can be achieved under the condition of deep digging of the soil in the autumn months with the introduction of humus together with phosphorus, potash and nitrogen fertilizers. Before sowing, it is impossible to fertilize the land with fresh manure, as as a result, root crops can be affected by spotting. And if in the fall you didn’t manage to dig up the garden bed, you can dig it up in the spring with Fokin’s flat cutter.

The optimum acidity of the soil is 7 pH. On acidic and wet soils, root celery does not grow well, and for heavy clay soil, good drainage must be provided.

Sowing seeds

Since the root crop ripens for a very long time, the seedling method of cultivation is necessarily used. Sowing seeds for seedlings begins in the last decade of February. For faster germination, it is advisable to soak the seeds in water at room temperature for a couple of days and, after light drying, proceed to sowing. To do this, in a box with soil mixture (from soddy soil, humus and sand), grooves are made every three centimeters, slightly compacting the ground.

sowing celery

An effective way to sow celery seeds: put snow in the grooves, and sprinkle seeds on top of it - this way they will be better visible, and when the snow melts, the seeds will be pulled into the ground to the optimum depth. In this case, it is not necessary to sprinkle the earth on top. Next, the crops are covered with glass or film and cleaned in a warm place where the air temperature is about +25 degrees.

seedling care

With the advent of seedlings, the temperature will need to be lowered to +16 degrees. So that the seedlings do not stretch out, illuminate them with fitolamps. Air the crops daily by turning the film over, moisten the drying soil from the sprayer. In the conditions of such a mini-greenhouse, seedlings grow strong and healthy. Thick crops need to be thinned out as the plants grow, removing the weakest specimens and giving the stronger seedlings more room.

Picking is done after the first true leaves appear on small shoots. When transplanting into another container, it is important not to fill in the central bud of celery, but to deepen it only to the base of the leaves.

Features of caring for celery root in the open field

So that the root does not turn out to be buried, the growth point must remain at the level of the soil

The grown seedlings can be transplanted to the garden when warm, dry weather is more or less established (around mid-May). Autumn frosts are not terrible for the root crop, but at the beginning of the growing season it is very sensitive to cold snaps - the plant throws out the peduncle from hypothermia, and the root crop becomes unfit for food. Therefore, it is not worth rushing with an early transplant, but for the first time you can prepare a shelter to save a fragile plant from the cold.

Be sure to make sure that the root does not turn out to be buried - the growth point should remain at the level of the soil. This is an important condition for growing celery large and even, without a “lush beard” of adventitious roots. For the same purpose, leave a distance of at least 30 cm between plants and between rows.

Video about the secrets of growing and caring for celery

Growing will be more successful if you adhere to the following rules:

all the leaves of a growing celery cannot be cut off, otherwise the root crop will not ripen, cut off only the extreme leaves;
hilling in this case is contraindicated - it provokes the growth of lateral roots, as a result of which the root crops lose their presentation;
when the root crop begins to thicken, to give it evenness, rake the earth from the tops of the plants and carefully cut off the lateral roots with a knife;
in order for the root crop to turn out juicy, with a rich taste and aroma, the soil in the garden must be kept moist (do not flood), watering is necessary not only throughout the summer, but also until October - this way celery heads will grow better;
watering is done under the root;

The harvest of celery grown according to all the rules can be harvested before the onset of autumn frosts

until the foliage over the bed closes, you need to regularly loosen the aisles;
for good growth, it is recommended to feed the plant with a herbal solution, when the seedlings in the open field start to grow, the second time they are fed with mullein infusion, the third time (until July 15) - Azofoska, the fourth time (from mid-July) - monophosphate, and when the head is tied, shed boric acid solution;
over the summer, two or three fertilizing with nitrogen fertilizers is required - no more is needed, otherwise the plants may be damaged by scab and septoria.

Fresh celery is far from always available for sale, and home-grown vegetables are always tastier and healthier than store-bought ones. Therefore, if you have your own plot, set aside one bed for these root crops, so that in the winter months you can cook vitamin salads or soups for your loved ones.

How to choose the right seeds

For a long time, this vegetable was undeservedly deprived of attention, and appeared extremely rarely on Russian beds, but now domestic gardeners are increasingly interested in planting it. This interest is simply explained: celery roots not only add a special piquancy and spicy flavor to dishes, but in addition they have numerous. It is not without reason that in the old days this vegetable plant was necessarily included in the daily diet of both ordinary people and aristocrats.

Celery roots not only add a special piquancy and spicy flavor to dishes, but in addition they have numerous beneficial properties.

Are you worried about the question of how to plant a root crop in order to harvest a large crop in the fall? To obtain it, you will need to choose the appropriate variety, correctly determine the timing of when to sow celery, and carefully grow seedlings. After transplanting into open ground, the vegetable will also need some care, which will be briefly discussed below.

Video about growing celery

The choice of seeds for sowing is very important, since it largely determines the final result - the size of root crops, their taste, ripening time. Therefore, in order not to be disappointed in the harvest, when buying:

choose only fresh seeds that expire next year;
give preference to large-fruited varieties, whose root crops reach a mass of half a kilo;
for cultivation, take early ripe varieties, otherwise the root crops simply will not have time to ripen;
The seeds of imported selection are considered the highest quality, but you can also find good planting material among domestic producers - try to buy products from trusted manufacturers.

The choice of seeds for sowing is very important, as it largely determines the final result.

Although there are not so many varieties of root celery so far, so as not to get confused when buying seeds, check out the most. So you will know in advance what result to expect, and you can choose the variety that will best suit your preferences.

Due to the too long ripening period and the too short summer in Russia, root crops can only be grown by seedlings, and no later than mid-February. Usually the optimal planting dates are indicated on the package with seeds.

Before planting celery, the seeds will have to be washed under running hot water, tied in gauze, and soaked for three days. After soaking, the seeds will need to be dried a little on paper, and you can start sowing.

Planting root celery for seedlings

Sowing occurs as follows:

for seedlings, prepare boxes with loose garden soil mixed with sand and humus, or purchased soil mixture;
a couple of days before sowing, spill the soil with boiling water with potassium permanganate;
immediately before sowing, moisten the ground well and draw grooves a centimeter deep;
sow seeds at intervals of up to five centimeters;
on top, you can sprinkle with a very thin layer of earth or leave the seeds uncovered - so they will germinate faster;
in the future, moisten the soil with a spray bottle and cover the box with glass or film to create the effect of a mini-greenhouse;
before the emergence of celery shoots, the temperature should be at the level of +25 degrees, and after - for five days, the temperature should be lowered to +16 degrees, otherwise the seedlings will stretch;
dense seedlings will need to be thinned out.

In February, the seedlings receive insufficient natural light, from which the seedlings can stretch and fall on their side. Therefore, it is recommended to additionally illuminate the seedlings.

In February, celery seedlings receive insufficient natural light, from which the seedlings can stretch and fall on their side.

With the advent of the first true leaves, the plants will need to dive into separate pots. It is worth noting that in spacious containers, the roots will not be damaged, and as a result, the roots will turn out to be smooth, without a “beard”.

Planting on the beds and further care

In mid-May, celery seedlings can be transplanted to a bed with loose fertile soil prepared in the fall. For transplantation, you should choose dry, warm weather, which, according to forecasts, should stand for another week. Plant plants at a distance of at least 30 cm from each other, trying not to fill up their growing point. It is impossible to bury the plant in the ground, otherwise adventitious roots will develop strongly, and the root crop will turn out to be clumsy. Until June, it is recommended to cover the bed with a covering material.

Video about planting root celery for seedlings

Caring for root crops during the season should be the same as for other garden plants: regularly water, weed and loosen the aisles. Phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are applied twice per season - two weeks after transplanting to the garden and three weeks later.

Plant plants at a distance of at least 30 cm from each other, trying not to fill their growing point

Ripe root crops can be dug up in early October, prying them with a pitchfork (do not pull out!). After digging, shake off the root crops from the ground, cut off the lower roots, foliage and dry. Such root celery can be eaten immediately or put away for storage.

Celery root is a fairly popular vegetable crop, which is easy to grow even for a novice gardener. Everyone is already well aware of its beneficial properties, spicy taste and aroma. , the features of care and the secrets of obtaining a generous harvest are described below.

Growing seedlings of celery root

Most often, celery is sown to obtain seedlings, which are later planted in open ground. Sowing seeds of root celery for seedlings should be started from the end of February or in the first decade of March. If you miss this period, then the plant will not have time to give a good harvest.

Any container is suitable for planting seeds. It is only important that it is easy to transplant celery seedlings from it in the future. The selected container is filled with a mixture of earth and humus in equal parts. To make the soil looser, it is worth adding a small amount of river sand. This will also give the soil good drainage properties. The sand should be pre-fried, and the ground can be disinfected by dousing with boiling water a few days before planting the seeds.

Learn how to grow celery root outdoors from seedlings

Before planting, the seeds are placed on a damp cloth and moistened with warm water. Seeds are moistened for about 3 days. This process contributes to better germination of celery. Seeds prepared and pre-soaked in warm water are sown on moistened soil in prepared grooves about 1 cm deep. Seeds are sown with a distance of 3-4 cm. Celery seeds do not need to be sprinkled with soil, and they will quickly sprout.

To maintain the desired microclimate, crops are covered with film or glass. Seeds of celery root germinate well under the following conditions, namely:

air temperature - about +24 degrees;
moist soil;
good lighting.

After about 3 weeks, when the celery plant has 2-3 leaves, it needs to be pickled. This contributes to the formation of smooth and attractive-looking roots.

Planting celery root in open ground

Experienced farmers advise planting celery seedlings not earlier than the onset of the May heat. For planting, you need to prepare a suitable piece of land. Celery root grows well on loose and fertilized soil. It is better to transplant on one of the warm days in sunny weather. If during the next week the ambient temperature is warm, then the seedlings will immediately be accepted and will not disappear.

Root celery plants are planted at a distance of about 30 cm from each other. Do not plant the plant too deep. Experience shows that in this case the roots will be crooked and ugly. If one day the weather turns bad and gets colder, it is recommended to protect the seedlings by covering them with a film.

Growing root celery in the open field requires the gardener to take care of the delicate plant. For this seedling you need:

water regularly by spraying;
loosen the soil between plants;
remove weeds;
fertilize the soil;
fight pests and plant diseases.

Root crops are ready for digging around mid-autumn. Most often, farmers dig them out with a pitchfork. The vegetable is cleared of the earth, the foliage is removed, and the root crop is dried.

We offer you to watch a video about growing celery root in the open field:

Growing celery root in open ground not too much of a hassle. But the farmer will have a vegetable rich in vitamins and microelements, which will undoubtedly strengthen the immune system and support the health of the summer resident in the winter. Continue reading on the site