Celery, 'Red Soup'

Germination

Prior to sowing prepare final planting site or celery trench and allow to settle. Sow indoors. Surface sow onto moist well-drained seed compost. Cover seed with a fine layer of vermiculite or compost. Propagate. Ideal temp. 15-18°C. Germination takes up to 21 days. Transplant seedlings when large enough to handle to 8cm pots and grow on in cooler conditions. Acclimatise and plant out once danger of frost has passed with 30cm spacing. For further growing information please refer to our web-site.

Growing

A Celery trench should be 40cm wide x 30cm deep. Fork over the bottom of the trench, add a layer of well rotted organic matter, or compost. Tread down well. Add a layer of soil. Either side of the trench there should be a raised heap of soil 10cm high. The trench needs to settle before planting, so prepare prior to planting seeds or the previous autumn. Just before planting seedlings fertilise the top 2cm of the trench soil. Allow 30cm seed spacing. Fill the trench with water after planting. Water well and liquid feed during summer. Blanch in August when plants are 30cm high. Remove any side shoots, surround stalks with newspaper/ card and tie loosely in place. In September earth up to give a steep sided mound leaving the foliage tops showing. Do not let soil fall into the celery hearts. If weather turns frosty protect tops of plants with straw.

Cultivation

Harvest as required up to Christmas. Harvest from one end of the row replacing soil to protect remaining plants.