Celery: Nutritious, easy to grow leafy vegetable
Celery is an aromatic leafy vegetable, commonly eaten during winters to maintain the deficiency of nutrients in the diet. The plants are easy to grow and can be easily grown at home without any difficulty. It is one of the best additions to the home garden. They require very little care and maintenance.
Quick Details of Celery
| Other Common Names | Celery |
| Type | Annual leafy vegetable |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Flowering | Spring |
| Light | Bright direct sunlight for 6-8 hours a day. |
| Water | Water regularly to maintain moisture. |
| Temperature | Any climatic condition |
| Soil | Well draining, slightly acidic soil. |
| Fertilizer | Nitrogen-rich fertilizer |
| Habitat | Europe |
| Toxicity | Nil |
| Common Diseases | slugs, earwigs, beetles |
| Scientific name | Apium graveolens |
Celery Buying Instructions
- Celery can easily be grown from seeds.
- Buy healthy seeds and always check the expiry date of the packet.
Overview of Celery
They are annual marshland plants that are used as a herb and as a seasoning. The leaves of this plant are mostly consumed during winters. They belong to the family Apiaceae. These plants are native to Europe. The plants have leaves that are either lemon green or dark green in color. The leaves are pinnate with broad, rhombic leaflets. The plants produce flowers that are white in color.
Some of the common varieties of the celery plants are :
Alfina: slender, dark green fast-growing plant.
Conquistador: tolerant varieties, require very little water.
They are rich in fiber. The plants have anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial properties. The plants are also rich in folate, Vitamin K, C, and A. It is rich in potassium and iron. The plants are consumed directly uncooked in a salad or cooked and added in soups.
Usage and Advantage of Celery
- The leaves are used as a vegetable.
- The oil extracted from the seeds are used in perfume industry.
- The dried leaves mixed with salt called as a celery salt is used as a seasoning of food.
Celery in India
Celery is new to Indian kitchens. Typically it’s a European aromatic vegetable and came to India as a part of globalization. Now, it can easily be grown in India in a controlled environment or in the winter season.
Sometimes people get confused in India and assume celery in Hindi is Ajwain. But it is not true. Celery is not an Indian plant, it recently got introduced to Indian kitchens. We found at some of the places that celery in Hindi is Ajmod. The same thing is been noticed for many Indian languages like celery in Tamil. There is no proper name for celery in Tamil.
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General Care for Celery
Soil:
They prefer a well-draining, nutrient-rich soil with a pH between 5.5 to 6.8. They prefer soils which have the ability to retain moisture.
Water:
Water the plants regularly. These plants require a lot of water, to maintain the moisture of the soil. Deepwater the plant once a week.
Sunlight:
They prefer bright direct sunlight for at least 6-8 hours a day.
Temperature:
The plants thrive in warm climatic conditions with normal humidity. In case of harsh sunlight, provide enough shade to the plants. Keep the plants away from the cold breeze. In case of dry conditions, mist the plant once a day to maintain moisture.
Special Care:
Mulch the soil to prevent the loss of moisture and to prevent the spread of diseases. Weed carefully taking care not to disturb the roots of the plant. Do not allow much space between the plants to avoid sprawling. In the case of trenching plants, add soil to provide enough support.
Fertilization:
Add an all-purpose fertilizer or an organic fertilizer/compost to the plant before sowing the seeds. The plants can be fed nitrogen-rich soil once a week during the growing period.
Pests and other problems for Celery
These plants are not prone to any pests or pathogens under favorable conditions. The plants are quite hardy and are not easily infected. However, the plants may be attacked by slugs, beetles, and earwigs. In case of any pest attack, manually remove the pests. Spray neem oil or soap solution to get rid of the pests.
Propagation of Celery
The celery plants can be easily grown from seeds. The seeds are easily available at the nursery. Soak the seeds in water for at least 24 hours before sowing the seeds. The soaked seeds can improve the speed of germination. Sow the soaked seeds in well-draining, nutrient-rich soil and cover it with a thin layer of soil. Water them and cover the pot with a plastic bag to prevent the loss of water. Place them in places with bright direct sunlight. The seeds should germinate within 7 to 10 days.
