Recently, celery has appeared on our table much more often. Due to the composition rich in useful elements, it becomes popular with many people. Therefore, many gardeners are trying to get its crop in home gardens and summer cottages. The first step for this is planting celery seedlings and caring for them.

Seed preparation

Celery seedlings are obtained in greenhouses and greenhouses from seeds, if there is no plot of sufficient area, then seedlings are grown on terraces and balconies. With proper sowing and care, it will not be difficult to get juicy greens, elastic petioles and large root crops. Due to its characteristics - a long growing season (up to 180 days), normal-sized celery can only be grown using seedlings. You need to start preparing seeds, before planting celery for seedlings, you need in the second decade of March.

The grains of this culture are very small and slowly awakening, as they contain a lot of essential oils, which make swelling very difficult. Often they simply do not have time to peck and form a sprout even in 20 days, and if there is not enough moisture, they germinate very poorly.

In order for seedlings to appear sooner, it is necessary to germinate the seeds, for this the required amount is poured into a cloth bag and dipped in heated water for 20 minutes, then immediately transferred to room temperature water for 20 minutes. After that, the seeds are poured out of the bag onto a damp cloth and kept in a warm place until sprouts appear. When keys appear on some grains, the seeds are mixed in a 1: 1 ratio with dry sand and sown.

Improves seed germination in a way such as bubbling for 24 hours, for this, a microcompressor for aquariums is used, which is supplied with air into the water with seeds. After that, the seed is treated for an hour with a solution of potassium permanganate at a concentration of 1%, or soaked in Epin for 2 hours.

Sowing celery seeds

It is desirable to sow this crop for seedlings in containers filled with light soil, which is mixed from 3 shares of high-moor peat, 1 share of sand, soddy soil and humus. On a bucket of this mixture, you need to add a glass of wood ash and 20 gr. urea. Prepared and germinated and dried seeds are sown in containers filled with soil mixture, after which the crops are immediately watered. Sowing is carried out in rows, making grooves 0.5-1 cm deep at a distance of 7-8 cm between the grooves. You can pour the seeds in rows on the ground, and sprinkle them with a thin layer of fine sand, so you provide the grains with air. That will improve their germination.

The sown dishes are covered with a film and transferred to a warm place, it will take about two weeks from sowing to the germination of the first seedlings. At this time, the crops are moistened with warm water using a spray bottle, cold water cannot be used - such watering will lead to the appearance of a black leg. When sunrises appear, the film is immediately removed, the boxes with seedlings are transferred to a well-lit, cool windowsill. It happens that sometimes the seedlings appear too densely, they must be immediately broken through, otherwise they will begin to obscure each other, grow lethargic and weak.

The first 40-45 days, celery seedlings develop slowly, then they are thinned out, leaving 5 cm of free space between individual plants, or dive into separate pots or a greenhouse. Seedlings, when picking into a greenhouse, are planted at a distance of 5-6 cm between plants, and the distance between rows is made 5-6 cm in size. In this case, the transplant field, many lateral roots begin to grow on a celery bush. During a dive, it is impossible to injure the main root, otherwise a deformed root crop will grow.

A plot for growing celery should be started in the fall - they dig up the beds, feed the soil with rotted compost or good humus. With the onset of spring, the beds are loosened and mineral fertilizers are fed, adding 40 g of complex fertilizer per 1 m2. Before planting, add to each well, one handful of wood ash and humus, everything is mixed well with the soil. After that, seedlings are planted, compacting the soil near the bush, and the beds are watered. Seedlings need to be covered from sunlight until it takes root (for about 2 weeks).

The best time for planting celery for seedlings is the second decade of May. It is important not to forget that early seedlings will allow you to get more quality root crops compared to planting later.

For transplanting to a permanent place, specimens with a good root system, fully formed 4-5 true leaves, about 12-15 cm high, are considered good seedlings. Normal root crops will probably not be obtained from overgrown or weak seedlings.

Celery is planted on the garden bed in rows spaced 30 cm apart, in a row the leaf and petiole form of celery is planted after 15-20 cm, the root celery should be located after 40-50 cm.

Caring for beds with celery

To preserve moisture, it is very important for a small seedling, the beds are mulched after planting. Water for celery is needed constantly, it is watered at least once a week, 20-25 liters per 1 m2, the soil should not be allowed to dry out. In extreme heat, crops are watered daily, the soil must be constantly moist.

The beds need to be broken in an open area, well lit by sunlight. After carrots, potatoes and any greens, celery seedlings should not be planted, it will develop poorly, good predecessors are cucumbers, any cabbage, asparagus, legumes. Until the green mass is completely closed over the bed, you need to loosen the soil daily.

During the season, celery is fed 4 times:

1. The first time seedlings are fed;

2. The second time 7 days after planting the seedlings (decoctions and infusions of herbs are used);

3. The third time, two weeks after the second, fertilize the plants with mullein infusion;

4. The last top dressing is done at the end of July, 30 g of superphosphate per 1 m² are applied to the beds.

Different types of this crop are cared for in different ways, the main difference is the type of celery grown - leaf or root.

A month before the start of the collection of root crops, it is necessary to highly soil the bushes, this will make it possible to whiten the petioles, reduce their bitterness (which is especially important for petiole celery).

In order to grow good root crops in the middle of summer, the soil is raked from the bushes and all regrown lateral roots are cut off, after which the leaves are lightly pressed to the soil. This will help to get large and absolutely round roots. It is important to finish harvesting the grown crop before the first frost, so that it is easier to dig out the roots, the soil can be watered before harvesting.

Remember! Celery has a delicate and thin skin, in order to keep the roots longer, try not to damage them during harvesting.

You can not completely remove the leaf celery for the winter, but leave it for growing in the winter - gradually dig out the bushes along with the roots and transplant them into a suitable dish.

Next year, in the beds after growing celery, asparagus, legumes, tomatoes, potatoes, garlic or onions will grow well.

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, it's 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.

Celery is an amazing crop with many health benefits. Thanks to vitamins and microelements, the root crop has a beneficial effect on the human body. For example, it improves metabolism, relieves tension, stress, irritability, and helps with increased fatigue. Of course, such a miracle can be bought in a store, but it is better to grow root celery in your garden or in your country house. But for this, you first need to germinate seedlings, and then plant them in open ground. Useful information about landing features and further actions, read below!

When to plant root celery for seedlings

The timing of planting seeds plays an important role. Horticulture experts recommend adhering to proper timing. So, you can choose the optimal time for the procedure according to the lunar calendar, according to the recommendations of seed manufacturers, according to the climatic features of the region in which the summer resident lives. Let's talk about them in more detail.

According to the lunar calendar in 2019

Many gardeners, choosing the best dates, adhere to the lunar planting calendar. This method has been tested by time and has a large number of fans.

It is best to sow celery root seeds in 2019 according to the lunar calendar on the following auspicious dates:

• in January - 27-29;
• in February - 6-8, 11-17, 23-26, 28;
• in March - 10-12, 15-17, 23-25, 27-30;
• in April - 2-9, 11-15, 24-27, 29, 30;
• in May - 1-4, 12-14, 21-23;
• in June - 9-11, 18-20;
• in July - 25-31.

In addition to prosperous days, there are also days when it is highly undesirable to carry out planting work. The unfavorable days according to the lunar calendar for planting celery in 2019 are the following numbers:

• in January - 5, 6, 21;
• in February - 4, 5, 19;
• in March - 6, 7, 21;
• in April - 5, 19;
• in May - 5, 19;
• in June - 3, 4, 17;
• in July - 2, 3, 17.

Knowing the favorable and unfavorable dates for the procedure will help to make high-quality preparation in advance and sow according to all the rules.

According to the recommendations of manufacturers, depending on the variety

Due to the too long ripening period and too short summer in some regions of Russia, root celery can only be grown in seedlings, and it is better to sow no later than mid-February. The optimal planting dates are usually indicated on the back of the seed package.

Depending on region and climate

On South planting a root crop for seedlings can be started as early as the beginning of February (some even do this at the end of January). In the Middle lane (Moscow region) planting celery is optimal in the second half of February. In Siberia and the Urals it is best to sow root celery seeds for seedlings from March.

How to plant root celery for seedlings

In order for the seedlings to be strong and of high quality, it is necessary to carry out the sowing procedure correctly. It is worth taking a responsible approach to the choice of substrate, planting capacity, preparation of seed material. More detailed information about all stages of sowing awaits you further.

What soil to plant

A suitable substrate can be either purchased at a specialized store or prepared independently at home.

To prepare the soil mixture in which you will grow seedlings of root celery, you need to take:

• One part of sod land;
• Two parts of humus;
• One part of peat;
• One part sand.

Note! If the container (for example, a plastic container) does not have drainage holes, then sand and pebbles can be placed on the bottom and only pour the prepared soil mixture on top.

The substrate for planting must be prepared in 2 days for sowing seeds. After preparation, it must be shed with a warm solution of 1% potassium permanganate, and after a day, it must be a fungicide against fungal diseases.

Immediately before planting the seeds in a container, it is recommended to mix the soil again and add a little wood ash (1 tablespoon per 1 kg of soil).

Planting containers

There are several excellent container options for growing celery seedlings. A convenient option for planting crop seeds would be to use the following containers:

• wooden or plastic box (container);
• plastic cassettes;
• plastic cups;
• peat cups (pots);
• peat tablets.

Video: pros and cons of different landing tanks.

Each of the above options has its pros and cons. In what exactly to grow seedlings of root celery, each gardener decides, based on his own preferences and capabilities.

How to prepare seeds for planting

The seeds of root celery are small, ribbed and oval in shape. And their color is gray or brown-brown. Seed material remains viable for one or two years. It is for this reason that it is better to sow them fresh or to check for germination.

Root celery is grown only through seedlings. This fact is due to the fact that the seeds of the culture germinate extremely slowly (at least after two weeks). Therefore, such a plant is considered a culture of a long period of growth (up to 180 days).

But in order for the direct cultivation of seedlings to be successful, it is necessary to carry out competent preparation of seed material. Why is preparation necessary? The fact is that the outer shell of the seeds of the plant is covered with a thin layer of essential oil, which greatly complicates their swelling and subsequent germination.

There are certain methods of seed treatment that allow sowing with swollen seeds and speeding up seedlings by three to four days, and with hatched seeds for a whole week.

So, the following methods can prepare the seeds for sowing:

1. bubbling. The process of bubbling celery seeds before planting must be carried out for 24 hours in oxygen-rich water, and then soaked in a 1% potassium permanganate solution for a little more than half an hour. After lowering the seeds for eighteen hours in a solution of "Epin" (two drops of "Epin" per 200 ml of water) at room temperature, followed by washing.
2. Soak. An interesting way to prepare before planting seedlings is soakcelery seeds V vodka. The most suitable is the use of an ordinary thin cotton cloth. Most importantly, do not use gauze. Put the seeds in this cloth and tie in a knot. Then lower the resulting bag into a glass of vodka and hold for 15 minutes. After that, rinse well in warm water and dry before sowing.

Direct fit

When conducting an event, it is important to follow all the steps. This step by step guide will help you. A step-by-step instruction for planting root celery seeds for seedlings in the snow is as follows:

1. Fill the planting containers with moistened soil and lightly compact it.
2. Next, pour two centimeters of snow on top (do not prepare the snow in advance so that it does not have time to melt).
3. Compact the snow bed and carefully spread the seedlings over the snow.
4. Then close with glass or cover with a film and put it in a warm and bright place (where the temperature is not lower than 25, and even 27 degrees is better).

The snow will subsequently melt and pull the seeds halfway into the topmost layer of soil. They will quickly hatch and rise. After that, the glass or film must be removed immediately.

can be planted and without snow, then immediately before sowing, mix the seeds with sand and spread them on the surface of the soil, and lightly sprinkle water with a dissolved growth regulator on top.

Video: sowing root celery seeds for seedlings.

Caring for seedlings of root celery at home

Proper and harmonious care of seedlings is the most important and indispensable component of successful crop cultivation. After sowing, you need to pay special attention to the seedlings and take care of the optimal temperature, lighting, watering and fertilizing.

Lighting

Seedlings need additional lighting. After all, sowing is carried out in the last month of winter, when daylight hours are still quite short. Therefore, seedlings after germination are best illuminated with fitolamps.

Note! The first 5-7 days of supplementary lighting is desirable to carry 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 for the whole day. The first 30-40 days, the seedlings grow slowly: shoots are long and thin, and the less they receive light, the more they stretch.

Temperature

The temperature in anticipation of seedlings should be at the level of 25-27 ºC, but as soon as the celery seeds begin to germinate, the shelter will need to be removed, and the box (planting container) transferred to a windowsill or other relatively cool place and lower the temperature to 15-18 degrees.

Watering and humidity

Water the celery seedlings with water only at room temperature. The first watering is usually carried out on the fourth or fifth day after the first shoots appear. Then the procedure is carried out weekly.

Important! Root seedlings should be watered very carefully. At first, it is better to do this with an eyedropper or syringe, or syringe, and then pour three tablespoons of essential moisture directly under the root.

After watering, it is always necessary to loosen the soil very delicately. 2-3 days before transplanting seedlings to a permanent place, it is watered abundantly.

the first top dressing of celery seedlings is carried out two weeks after picking, when the plants have successfully taken root.

If the leaf of the seedling is pale green and even yellowish, it is better to feed with urea (dilute half a teaspoon with 1 liter of water). With normal growth, plants are fertilized with complex fertilizers, for example, Mortar (in the same ratio as in the case of urea). You can use liquid concentrates of humic growth substances - "Ideal", "Gumi" (optimal dosages are indicated on the labels).

If necessary, carry out second feeding 8-10 days after the first when the plants will have three true leaves, increasing the dose of fertilizer to one tablespoon per five liters of water.

Celery root responds well to sodium and potassium nitrate, they are usually used in the second feeding (1 tablespoon per 5 liters of water).

Video: how and how to feed seedlings.

Picking celery seedlings should be carried out when the first pair of true leaves appears. When picking, the main root is preserved, and the branches are shortened by 1/3.

The soil for transplanting a root crop can be made from the following components:

• 3 parts of humus;
• 1 part of sod land;
• 1/3 of the sand;
• 1 st. l ash (per 1 kg of the above components)
• 1 tsp granulated mineral fertilizers (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium)

2 days before picking celery seedlings, it is advisable to shed containers with soil with a warm 1% solution of potassium permanganate. The next day, it is recommended to shed the soil mixture already with a fungicide to prevent fungal diseases.

After picking, the seedlings need to be shed with warm clean water and placed not on a lighted window sill, but in partial shade for two to three days at a temperature not lower than 22 degrees. During the week, it does not hurt to make regular watering as the soil dries up.

Video: picking celery root.

Important! You can not pour the earth under the cotyledon leaves of seedlings of root celery, otherwise the number of roots will increase and the root crop will turn out to be “shaggy” and “hairy”.

When to plant seedlings in open ground

Please note that the site on which you are going to plant seedlings must first be prepared in the autumn.

autumn poor soil is fertilized with rotted manure(7 kg per 1 sq. m.) and superphosphate(10 g per 1 sq. m.). Before planting in the spring, the soil must be very well fed with organic fertilizers.

Seedlings of root celery are ready for planting in open ground when the plants reach a height of 11-12 cm and form at least 5-6 true leaves.

The ideal time for planting celery seedlings in open ground is early May. If spring is a little late, you can wait until the middle of the month for the soil to warm up and the threat of night frosts to recede.

Note! If, however, the threat of frost persists, cover the seedlings for the first time with covering material.

Immediately before planting in the holes, it is required to pour 1 tbsp. l superphosphate, then gently mix with the soil and pour a little water into the holes. Next, you need to transplant the seedlings, deepening the plant to the cotyledon leaves. Root crops should be planted at a distance of at least 25-30 cm from each other, while trying not to fill their growing point.

Important! It is impossible to deepen the plant excessively into the ground, in this case, adventitious roots will most likely develop strongly, and the root crop will grow clumsy.

Video: planting seedlings in open ground.

Caring for celery seedlings after landing on a summer cottage

Subsequent care for celery root after planting in open ground is reduced to weekly top dressing infusion of weeds with the addition of 1 tsp. superphosphate per 10 liters of solution (1 liter of weed infusion per 5 liters of water).

Important! Celery categorically does not tolerate top dressing with fresh manure.

When the root crop begins to tie, be sure to give top dressing with boron(2 g per 10 liters of water), otherwise voids may begin to form in the celery root.

With further care for celery, you must constantly remove outer leaves so that the plants have no more than 4-5 young leaves all the time of growth.

To grow root celery without a beard, during active growth it must be regularly spudded so that it is above the soil surface, and it is also important to constantly cut off the side roots (necessarily with a sharp knife and very carefully so as not to damage the root crop) so that they do not grow to the sides , and the root crop did not branch. If you follow these simple recommendations, you will definitely get a large, round and dense root crop without any root beard.

Do not forget that this is a moisture-loving plant, so it needs constant watering. Despite this, the soil should not be wet, and water should not stagnate in it. Watering is carried out under the root.

When to Harvest and How to Store Root Celery Harvest

Ripe root crops can be dug up and removed from the garden from mid-October, always before the first frost, when the tops turn yellow. Root celery is pulled out by the tops and knocked on it. If the sound is sonorous, then it is suitable for storage. The root crop is well stored for 3-6 months, for example, in a plastic bag or in wet sand at a temperature of 0-3°C.

Video: harvesting and storing celery root.

Diseases and pests of celery

Like any other crop, celery faces various diseases and pests. They can cause irreparable harm to the crop if preventive measures and protection of the garden are not taken. It is also necessary to "know the enemy by sight".

The following is a list of diseases that most commonly affect crops:

• powdery mildew;
• white spotting (septoria);
• alternariosis;
• late celery burn;
• cercosporosis;
• cucumber mosaic;
• stolbur;
• scab.

The main plant pests are:

• hogweed buravnitsa (celery fly);
• carrot fly (leaf fly);
• bean aphid.

Unfortunately, pests and diseases can ruin any crop and "attack" the strongest plant. Therefore, it is important to prevent the appearance of unwanted guests, and if diseases and pests have already befallen your plantings, then you need to immediately process celery from diseases and pests.

Celery is a very valuable product, famous for its healing properties. Fragrant and juicy, its roots are good in any form, but most useful in fresh salads. To provide themselves with vitamins for the whole season, many gardeners grow celery root in their plots in seedlings. In the absence of experience, it is not easy to achieve good results, since agricultural technology has its own secrets.

Seed selection for seedlings

When choosing seeds, you need to immediately determine the timing of ripening. As you know, the growing season of celery is one of the longest - from 150 to 220 days, while young plants are not resistant to cold. To get large and fully ripened root crops, it is recommended to choose early-ripening varieties, for example, Prague Giant, Snowball, Diamant, Apple, Gribovsky.

You should buy seeds only in specialized stores, otherwise there is no guarantee that the contents of the bag correspond to the variety indicated on it. Be sure to pay attention to the expiration dates.

Sowing preparation

Photo - celery seeds, scattering

The best time for sowing celery for seedlings is the first half of February, and the latest deadline is mid-March. Always start with the preparation of planting material. Seed germination is hindered by essential oils, which envelop them from the outside, protecting them from adverse effects. To eliminate this problem, the seeds are soaked in clean water for a couple of days. Water must be changed three times a day. You can do it differently: take a small plate or saucer, put clean paper folded in several layers on top, or a piece of cloth and soak it with plenty of water. Seeds are evenly distributed on top with a thin layer and placed in a warm dark place until germination. Be sure to keep the paper moist all the time.

Preparing seeds for sowing - soaking

Sowing for seedlings

For seedlings, you can use any convenient containers - wooden boxes, plastic containers, disposable cups or special cassettes.

Seedling cassettes
Show on page View in full size

They take a purchased soil mixture or make it themselves: mix 1 part of soddy land, 6 parts of peat, 2 parts of humus, 1 part of mullein. The second option is biohumus and sifted sand in a ratio of 1: 1. Such mixtures are considered the most optimal for celery, since they contain all the substances it needs. The soil should be loose, moderately moist, uniform.

Seeding process quite simple and requires only great care, as the seeds are very small.

Sequence of actions	Description
	The prepared soil is poured into containers, not reaching the top by 1.5-2 cm. The surface is carefully leveled, but not compacted.
	With a toothpick, small grooves are made with an interval of three centimeters or small indentations are made according to the 2x2 cm scheme.
	Sprouted seeds are sown. So that they do not stick together and fall evenly, before planting they are laid out on a dry, clean cloth and dried a little.
	The grooves are sprinkled with soil no more than 0.5 cm, the boxes are wrapped with foil and placed in a dark, warm place.
	Periodically moisten the soil with a sprayer. Seedlings should appear in about a week.

Some gardeners sow celery in the snow: grooves are made 5-7 mm wide and filled along the entire length with snow. Seeds are laid out on top of the snow, the boxes are covered with glass or film and cleaned in a warm place. This method is convenient in that the seeds are clearly visible against a white background, so they can be spread out more evenly. In addition, when the snow melts, each seed will sink to the optimum depth, and the melt water will accelerate germination.

There is another very convenient and practical way called "snail". It allows you to grow a lot of strong seedlings on a minimal area, and when transplanting plants into a separate container, the roots do not tangle with each other and are easily pulled out of the ground.

The method of growing seedlings "in a snail"

For this method you need:

• a small round container with a height of 5 cm or more (you can use a regular mayonnaise jar);
• a piece of polypropylene substrate with a width of 10-12 cm and a length of 20 cm or more;
• large tray;
• stationery gum;
• soil mixture.

They put a tray on the table and lay out the substrate on it so that one of its edges is flush with the side. Part of the soil is poured onto this edge and leveled over the entire width of the substrate 1 cm thick. Gently press down with your hand to compact, slightly moisten with water or a stimulating solution for seedlings.

The seeds are laid out in a straight line along the side edge of the tape, departing from the cut about 2 cm. It is advisable to sow not densely so that there is free space between the seeds. For celery, 0.5-1.5 cm is enough. When the piece of the substrate on the tray is completely sown, you can begin to form a “snail”. To do this, gently lift the edge of the tape and, holding the soil with your palm, twist it into a roll. You don’t need to press hard, but you can’t leave voids so that the earth doesn’t spill out.

Next, the roll is moved to the edge of the tray and held with one hand, and with the other, the soil is poured onto the free edge of the substrate. Everyone repeats until the tape is completely folded. The finished "snail" is fastened with an elastic band, carefully turned over with the seeds up and placed in a container.

If the soil wakes up a little, you can add on top and moisten with water. After that, a plastic bag is put on the seed roll, the edges of which are threaded under the elastic band around the entire circumference. It is in such a mini-greenhouse that celery will sprout. Put it in a warm place and periodically pour water into the container.

When the first sprouts appear, the container should be placed on the windowsill so that the plants receive more light. After 2-3 days, you need to remove the package and arrange additional lighting for the seedlings.

seedling care

The optimum temperature for seedlings is about 16 degrees. It is not always possible to provide such conditions for plants, but a light and cold window sill is considered the most acceptable option. When the temperature rises to 8 degrees outside, you can take out the seedlings to the balcony. Plants should not be supercooled, as this leads to the shooting of celery. During this period, the soil should be moistened only by spraying; when watering, thin and fragile sprouts can be damaged. Thickened crops must be thinned out, choosing the weakest specimens. If this is not done, the seedlings will stretch and weaken.

picking

Once they have two true leaves. The day before picking, the soil is watered abundantly, which reduces the risk of damage to both the roots and the aerial parts. Each seedling is carefully removed from the ground, pinched a third of the main root and placed in a separate container with fresh soil mixture. You need to deepen the plant to the cotyledons, leaving an open point of growth.

Further care is quite simple: 1 time the sprouts are sprayed with a weak weak solution of potassium permanganate, fed with a solution of humate every three weeks or infusion of bird droppings. Mineral fertilizers can also be used, but in the most minimal doses.

Video - Picking celery seedlings

Since celery is sensitive to cold, it should not be planted in open ground until mid-May. If weather forecasters promise frosts, it is better to wait one or two weeks. Plants are planted according to the scheme 30x30 cm, placing the growth point at ground level. If the root is deeply deepened, lateral roots will begin to develop, the fruit will be bumpy, small in size and not so juicy. For planting celery, it is better to choose a cloudy calm day - such weather conditions facilitate the adaptation of seedlings. At night, the beds should be covered with white agrofibre, which perfectly protects from the cold.

In the absence of such material, ordinary plastic bottles cut across are also suitable. In this case, each plant is covered separately.

The nuances of growing celery

Celery root - the nuances of growing

Celery root requires a lot of moisture. Drying out of the soil, even a slight one, greatly affects the taste and size of the root crop. Water it under the root and maintain stable soil moisture throughout the growing season.

Not later than 10 days after planting seedlings, celery should be fed with herbal infusion. For this, two weeks before feeding, fresh nettles, comfrey or chamomile are harvested, and a plastic tank or wooden barrel is filled two-thirds. The grass is poured with water, the container is covered with a lid, put in the sun to roam. Every day you need to mix the contents well, filling it with oxygen. When the foam disappears from the surface, the fertilizer is ready. It must be diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 9 and feed the plants.

In the middle of summer, fertilizing with superphosphate will give a good result, and during the period of root formation, experienced gardeners advise fertilizing celery with a solution of boric acid.

Superphosphates - photo

Celery responds well to loosening the soil, but this is often not worth doing. It is enough to loosen the beds once every two weeks, until the plants have grown too much. But it is impossible to spud this culture, otherwise you will have to forget about the harvest. On the contrary, having noticed a thickening of the root, you should rake off the excess soil a little, then the lateral roots will not be able to grow and draw juices from the central part. And if you suddenly notice roots going to the side under a layer of earth, cut them off with a knife without regret.

In early autumn, it is advisable to remove all side leaves, and leave only those growing vertically. Root crops themselves are harvested no earlier than October. The plant sits very tightly in the ground and often its delicate skin is damaged during harvesting, which leads to a decrease in the keeping quality of the vegetable. This can be avoided if the beds are shed with water before harvesting.

Video - Growing celery root seedlings

In today's article, we will consider the basic rules for preparing celery seeds for planting seedlings. After reading the article, you will learn about the basic principles of planting root celery from the preparation stage to the appearance of the first shoots.

Petiole and root celery fly off the shelves in stores and from the hands of summer residents in the markets. For yourself or for sale, celery requires a conscious and systematic approach to preparation. Where to start? It is better to start by preparing the container and soil for planting, then you can already deal with seeds and start sowing.

How to plant celery for seedlings:

• It is more convenient to plant in oblong boxes: 30x20 cm or 35 by 15 cm with a height of 7-9 cm, independently folded or picked up in a store.
• Soil mixture: peat, humus, some sand.
• Celery seeds are planted in the snow. Planting at the end of February allows you to pick up a little base for a cold substrate on the street.
• Scatter the seeds randomly over the snow.
• After the snow has melted, sprinkle with a 5 cm layer: sand or humus, dry. It is better to choose humus.
• Cover with foil. After 7 days we will get shoots.

Before planting, celery seeds are prepared. When to start preparing root celery for seedlings? In February you can start preparing. Root celery develops for a long time : 160 to 180 days after germination . It is unproductive to grow seeds in open ground - you will have to wait a long time for germination and ripening.

• Small seeds are only at first glance not thrifty. The thin skin contains a huge amount of essential oils that preserve the nutritious middle, slow down growth, therefore need to soak.
• Spread celery seeds on gauze cut, put in water for 3 days. Change the water every day so that it does not stagnate, taking out the seeds in gauze, as in a bag.
• After 3 days of soaking, the seeds are taken out and dried., and then - sown in the snow in a container.

Stratification of celery seeds

To replace the first method to speed up seed germination, you can use the quick soaking method: immersing first in warm, then in cold water. Seeds of celery root are also folded in gauze, then placed in warm water - + 50-60°C- for 20 minutes. Right out of it in the cold, squeezing the gauze a little, no longer than 15 minutes. They take out the gauze bag, unfold it, cover the celery seeds with another layer of wet gauze and leave it in a warm place (temperature + 21-22 ° C) for pecking. It is recommended to check the condition of the seeds by periodically removing the gauze.

Bubbling celery seeds for seedlings

100% germination method - bubbling - accelerates spitting and saturates the seeds. How to do it: pour ordinary water into a 1 liter container, place the seeds without gauze, insert the compressor tube, turn it on. Leave for 16-20 hours with the compressor on. Sow after treatment.

Dressing celery seeds before planting

Seed disinfection is carried out in solution potassium permanganate: 1 gram per 250 ml warm water or by eye until a pinkish, unsaturated solution is obtained. Potassium permanganate disinfects, but "Epin" or "Ovary" saturates and prepares for planting: 2 drops per 100 ml of water at room temperature. After potassium permanganate, the seeds are washed under running water, after the biostimulator there is none.

↓ Write in the comments about your methods of preparing celery for planting seedlings. Did the suggested methods work?