Don't miss the juiciest stalks: when to harvest celery

Celery is gaining popularity among those who grow vegetables in their own gardens. In particulal because all its parts are used for food. But do you know when to harvest celery stalks?

Experienced gardeners say that the ground part of the vegetable requires careful maintenance - it needs to be protected from pests and watered a lot. It should also be harvested before the stems are fully developed in order to get a juicy vegetable, not a hard and bitter one. OBOZ.UA asked what signs will help to harvest celery stalks in time.

How to grow celery correctly

Since this plant has a long growing season, it is recommended to start growing it in mid-spring. Sow the seeds in seedling pots and take care of them at home.

You can plant them outdoors as soon as the risk of frost has passed. The length of the stems should be 10-15 cm. Keep the distance between the plants 20-30 cm so that they have enough space for the root system to develop. For a celery bed, choose a site in a sunny location. The plant will do better in soil that retains moisture well.

When to harvest celery

Depending on the variety and weather conditions, celery can take 100 to 140 days to ripen. The harvest season for early varieties lasts from mid-summer to fall, almost until the frost. Late, cold-resistant vegetables can be harvested until the onset of winter. You can find out more precise information on the seed package or from the seedling producer.

The crop needs regular watering throughout the season, especially in hot weather, as constant humidity is necessary for the stems to develop well and be juicy. Lack of moisture will cause them to grow wiry and tough.

The stems of ripe celery should be 7 cm in diameter and 15 to 20 cm long. When the plant grows to these dimensions or a little more, you can harvest it.

Choose a humid day to cut celery stalks. If you harvest them in hot and dry weather, you will get a tough and difficult to chew vegetable. The air temperature should be low - up to 20 degrees.

How to harvest celery

There are two ways to harvest celery: cut off individual stalks and let the rest grow, or harvest the entire head of the plant at once. If you want the root of the vegetable to ripen, remove the outer stems from the plant. You can cut them off with a clean tool or break them off.

To harvest the entire plant, remove some soil away from the branches and cut the stems just below ground level but above the root. You can either cut the crown with a knife or lift the whole plant and cut off the head from the roots after removing it from the ground.

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