Celery root, growing from seeds

If you're interested in growing celery root from seeds, we'll show you how to do it right, and your harvest will be a joy. First, choose good seeds; second, follow proper cultivation practices, water and feed them properly; and we'll share many other secrets about planting and caring for celery root.

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Selecting seeds

You can buy imported seeds, but our own can also produce an excellent harvest. For example, the "Russian Size" variety is very good, producing large, juicy tubers. When choosing seeds, keep in mind the long maturation time of the tubers, up to 190 days, so in cooler regions, choose early varieties to ensure the tubers have time to ripen.

Root celery is traditionally grown from seedlings precisely because of its slow maturation, and seeds are sown as early as February. Another interesting fact is that the seeds improve in quality over the years. So, if you've collected celery seeds, it's best to plant them after 2-3 years. This will improve the yield and result in juicier and larger tubers.

We sow seeds

First, dampen a cotton cloth and place the seeds in it to soak. Once they sprout, transfer them to a container filled with soil, sand, and turf. Create a mini greenhouse by covering the container with plastic or glass, but remember to periodically remove the plastic to allow oxygen to reach the seedlings. Also, turn the plastic over periodically to prevent condensation from dripping onto the plants. The temperature in your mini greenhouse should be around 16 degrees Celsius (61 degrees Fahrenheit). Use a spray bottle to keep the soil moderately moist and prevent waterlogging.

If your seeds sprouted evenly, that's great. But be sure to remove any excess, especially the weak ones; these seedlings don't like being crowded; they need space. As soon as two leaves appear, transplant them immediately, but don't cover the central bud with soil.

Preparing the soil and transplanting celery into the ground

In the fall, if you plan to grow celery root in your garden, allocate a bed for it and prepare it. Dig it over and add fertilizer such as humus, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. In the spring, break up clods of soil, create drainage with a pitchfork, and puncture the soil in places to improve oxygenation. Celery thrives in this type of soil. If the soil is clayey, add some sand. The site you choose should be well-lit; celery dislikes shade.

Plant seedlings in mid-May, not earlier than when the weather is already quite warm and frost is no longer expected. If the weather isn't yet completely warm and stable, it's best to wait or cover the seedlings; any stress in the form of temperature fluctuations is very harmful to them now.

You can plant in holes, or you can make furrows to make watering easier. There's no need to plant the roots too deep; their growing point should be above the ground. Oh, and don't forget to add a little nitrogen before planting. Firm the soil lightly, water with warm water, and cover overnight until the seedlings are established to prevent freezing.

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Caring for celery

Since celery roots are very oxygen-sensitive, it's essential to loosen the soil, but carefully, to avoid accidentally damaging the roots. Once the stems grow tall and begin to rise above the bed, forming strong plants, stop loosening.

It's best to water early in the morning with warm water, but in moderation—the plant doesn't tolerate excess moisture, as it can cause root rot, but drought is also harmful. Remove weeds and mulch to maintain good moisture. Don't pick leaves, only dry or damaged ones, as they accumulate nutrients over the season and then transfer all these benefits to the roots.

If the stems thicken significantly and block the sun, you can trim back the side leaves slightly. Apply nitrogen twice during the season, and you can also apply boric acid once more, but only after the root heads have formed.

Don't hill up celery; on the contrary, you should even expose the root head to prevent the side roots from sprouting. And before you're ready to harvest (which will be around October), remove the side leaves two weeks beforehand and expose the root even more.

The benefits of celery and its possible harm

A wealth of vitamins, a treasure trove of minerals, several essential acids, coumarin, which protects against cancer—and countless other benefits! Celery is also very beneficial for men, thanks to its aphrodisiac properties.

However, it's definitely not recommended for pregnant women, and especially not for nursing mothers. You might miss out on milk production, and bloating can be quite unpleasant. We definitely don't recommend it for those with kidney stones or stomach ulcers. Otherwise, enjoy your health, grow this wonderful root vegetable, and bring joy to your family!

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