The ideal climatic conditions for the production of celery are bright
sunshine, pure air, cool nights, and a well-distributed rainfall of
about 8 inches during the growing period in the field or garden.
_Soils._--In the production of celery for domestic use, a rich, mellow,
sandy loam will give the best results. The soil of the seed bed should
contain plenty of leaf mold and should be passed through a sieve having
not less than six meshes to the inch. The soil of the transplanting
bed need not be sifted so fine, and some well-rotted barnyard manure
should replace a part of the leaf mold; in other respects it should be
the same as that of the seed bed. Any fertile, well-drained soil will
grow celery, but a loose, sandy loam is preferable. If nothing but clay
soil is available, it may be made to produce good celery by the liberal
application of well-rotted barnyard manure. On clay soils there is
likely to be injury caused by the soil becoming washed into the hearts
of the plants while they are yet small.
_Fertilizers._--For the production of the home supply of celery there
is no fertilizer that is so satisfactory as well-rotted barnyard
manure. In many localities the supply of manure is limited, and it may
be necessary to depend almost entirely upon commercial fertilizers. If
fresh stable manure is used, it should be plowed under in the autumn.
If the manure is well rotted, it may be plowed under early in the
spring or used as a top-dressing a short time before planting in order
to bring the manure to the surface. From 10 to 20 tons of manure to the
acre should be applied each year that the land is planted to celery.
The application of lime will improve most soils. Following the use
of stable manure an application of 1,000 pounds of ground quicklime
as a top dressing will be beneficial. Soils that are liable to leach
during the winter can be held by planting to rye and the crop turned
under quite early in the spring. When applied to clay soils the lime
has a tendency to lighten them, and sandy soils are rendered more
retentive of moisture by the addition of lime. An application of 500 to
800 pounds of common salt to the acre is considered desirable by some
growers. Celery will take up a limited quantity of salt, and its flavor
is improved thereby.
One to 2 tons of high-grade fertilizer to the acre may be profitably
applied on most soils in addition to the stable manure and lime. As a
rule, the quick-acting fertilizers are used, and a mixture suitable for
growing celery should contain about 6 per cent of nitrogen, 5 per cent
of available phosphoric acid, and 10 per cent of potash.
_Time and Method of Plowing._--As a rule the land should be plowed
several weeks before planting. At the North it is desirable to plow
the celery land in the autumn and allow the soil to lie exposed to the
action of frost during the winter. At the South it will be necessary
to plow but a short time before planting. The plowing should be very
thorough, and in most cases with a somewhat heavier plow than that
generally used for other crops.
_Smoothing and Pulverizing._--A few days before the land is required
for planting, the surface should be cut with a disk or cutting harrow,
followed by such tools as are necessary to pulverize the soil to a
depth of 5 or 6 inches. Just before planting, the land should either
be rolled or gone over with a float, or drag, made by nailing together
planks or scantlings, in order to secure an even surface for planting.
_Marking Rows._--The rows in which the celery plants are to be set
should not be marked until a short time before planting, in order that
the soil may remain fresh. A marking device similar to the ordinary
corn marker may be used, but some form of roller with a number of
projecting pegs to form holes in which to set the plants is desirable.
A device of this character can be constructed by replacing the wheel of
an ordinary wheelbarrow with a roller having a series of pegs.
_Selection of Seed._--The first and most important consideration when
preparing to grow a crop of celery is the securing of good seed, not
merely seed of which a large percentage will germinate, but that having
strength and vigor sufficient to give the seedling a good start. As
the seeds of celery are very small, it is necessary that only a small
percentage of the number usually sown should actually grow in order to
secure an abundance of plants; but as low germination and the necessary
vigor are seldom both to be found in the same packet of seed that seed
which has a high percentage of germination is preferable.
_Sowing for an Early Crop._--For sowing seed during the early part of
the season, the plan best suited to the requirements of the farmer or
amateur grower of celery is to secure a wooden flat or tray about 16 by
24 inches in size and 3 inches deep, with several small holes in the
bottom for drainage. After filling with sifted soil level it off even
with the top, and either shake down the soil or press it down by means
of a board before the seeds are sown. Either sow in drills 2 inches
apart or scatter broadcast, and cover the seed by sprinkling through
a fine sieve a very small quantity of leaf mold or sand. This tray
can be placed in the window of a moderately warm room in the dwelling,
and the soil should be watered by sprinkling very lightly as often as
necessary to keep the surface from showing dryness, but the soil should
not become waterlogged.
_Sowing for a Late Crop._--The method now in use by most large growers
is to prepare a tract of land by pulverizing with horse tools and then
raking by hand, after which the seed is sown broadcast by means of a
wheelbarrow grass-seed drill. The soil is sometimes pressed down with
a plank after the seeds are scattered, but some growers maintain that
there is a decided advantage in leaving the soil slightly uneven, as
the seeds fall into the shaded places and are protected from the direct
rays of the sun. The seed will become sufficiently covered by rains
or by watering. Should more than 20 per cent of the seed usually sown
germinate, it is necessary to thin out to prevent overcrowding, with
its attendant injury. To prevent the surface of the soil becoming too
dry, it may be necessary to partially shade the young plants during the
warm days of early summer, but the shading should never be so dense as
to cause them to become "drawn."
_Transplanting._--In case the grower adopts the plan of transplanting
twice, the seedlings will be ready for the first handling in from four
to six weeks from the time the seed is sown. The seedlings may be
transplanted to trays or to beds in the open ground. This transplanting
answers two purposes: (1) The seedling plant of celery has a straight
root, or taproot, which is broken in transplanting, causing a large
mass of fibrous roots to be formed. In the case of a plant allowed to
remain in the seed bed until planting-out time this taproot has gone
far down into the soil and the plant has formed very few side roots;
consequently it suffers a great shock in the process of planting in the
field, and a large number of plants will need to be replaced. (2) When
transplanting twice is practiced there is no necessity for thinning,
and a more uniform lot of plants is obtained. Two handlings can not be
recommended when celery is grown on a large scale, as the cost of labor
is too great. It is better to have a surplus of plants and to renew
those that fail.
_Watering._--When the seed bed is prepared, the soil of which it is
composed should contain as much moisture as possible and yet be in
good condition to handle. After sowing and covering the seeds the bed
should be sprinkled lightly. During the period between seeding and the
appearance of the plants the bed should be watered only as often as it
shows indications of dryness; however, the surface should never become
dry. During the first few days a moist cloth may be spread over the
surface of the seed bed in order to conserve the moisture, but this
covering should be removed before the seedlings begin to appear. After
the plants are up, care should be taken not to water too heavily, as
the seedlings are liable to "damp off"; but the ground should never
become so dry as to check their growth. Celery requires the most water
while making its greatest growth, which occurs late in the summer. As
the crop approaches maturity the water should be applied sparingly, and
it should be withheld altogether for some time before blanching. Among
the methods of applying the water, the most simple and usually the most
desirable practice, especially where the surface of the soil is even,
is to run the water along the rows by means of small furrows, 8 or 10
inches distant on either side of the row. This method is well adapted
to use on a gentle slope with the rows running up and down the incline.
When the water is sprinkled over the entire surface it should be done
late in the day, so that the soil may, during the night, absorb the
moisture and prevent a crust being formed, as would be the case were
the water applied under the direct heat of the sun.
_Growing Without Irrigation._--For a home supply of celery it is often
possible to select a rather moist but well-drained piece of land
whereon it may be grown without artificial watering. In this case the
plants should be set while the atmosphere is filled with moisture,
preferably between gentle showers, and the moisture afterwards retained
in the soil by frequent shallow cultivation or by the application of a
mulch around the plants. This method can not be followed in climates
where irrigation is necessary for the production of crops, but is
applicable in regions that have an ordinary rainfall during the growing
season.
_Planting._--For domestic use, where plenty of land is available, it
will be found most economical to plant in single or double rows 4, 5 or
6 feet apart, with the plants 5 or 6 inches apart in the row. If the
space is limited, solid beds about 5 feet wide will be found suitable,
with the plants set 7 or 8 inches apart each way. By planting in rows
the crop may be worked with a horse cultivator or a wheel hoe and the
banking more easily done, and thus the cost of production is lessened.
With the solid-bed system the work must all be done by hand. If
possible, the planting should be done when the soil is rather moist and
the atmospheric conditions suitable to the subsistence of the plants
until the roots can again furnish sufficient moisture to supply them.
The bed should be thoroughly watered a few hours before the plants are
removed, and a knife or trowel should be run between the plants so that
they may be lifted with a clump of earth and with most of their roots
attached.
_Mulching._--In muck soils it will not be found necessary to mulch the
ground around the plants after setting, but some kind of a covering
is desirable on sandy and clay soils. As soon as the plants are in
position and before any water is applied, cover the ground for a
distance of 8 or 10 inches on either side with any finely divided
material that will shade the top of the soil and prevent a crust being
formed after watering; half-rotted manure is preferable for this, as it
aids the growth by its fertilizing qualities. Good celery can be grown
on clay upland with but one watering--at the time of planting--provided
that plenty of mulch is applied as soon as the plants are set. The
roots of celery, after it is once transplanted, run close to the
surface, and the mulch will protect them from the heat of the sun.
Among materials that may be used for a mulch may be mentioned pine
needles, leaves of any kind, straw, cornstalks run through the cutter,
clippings from the lawn, etc., none of which, however, are as good as
barnyard manure. Have the material to be used as a mulch near at hand,
and as the plants are set cover the soil around them to a depth of 2
inches, bringing the mulching material up close to the plant, but being
careful to allow none to get into the heart. Apply the mulch before
watering, if possible.
Where celery is planted in single rows and mulched it will only be
necessary to maintain shallow cultivation between the rows, not
allowing the cultivator teeth to come nearer the plants than the edge
of the mulch. Where no mulch is used the cultivation may be carried a
little closer to the plants, but should be very shallow, and at no time
should deep cultivation be practiced, as the roots are to be found very
near the surface of the soil. If a mulch is used no hand cultivation
will be required, either along the side or between the plants in the
row, except to pull any weeds that may spring up. Where no mulch is
used it will be necessary lightly to stir the surface with a wheel
hoe or iron rake, to prevent a crust being formed after each rain or
watering. Keep the surface of the soil smooth and in no case allow
lumps of earth to remain near the plants.
_Blanching._--In its original wild state the stems of celery are tough,
full of woody strands, of a rank flavor, and green in color, being
similar to the outside stems or trimmings of our present varieties. The
object of blanching is to secure leafstalks free from woody strands,
crisp and tender, and without the rank flavor found in those that are
green. Of the cultivated plant there are two classes of varieties, the
large-growing, or giant, and the dwarf sorts. These are again divided
into those which must be blanched by excluding all the light and those
which are in a measure self-blanching. Of the former the Giant Pascal
variety is a type, and of the latter the Golden Self-Blanching variety
is a good illustration.
Blanching is accomplished by the same general method that is employed
for destroying the coloring matter in any plant tissue, that is, by
excluding the light and allowing the growth to proceed in the dark.
The particular method to be adopted must be determined largely by the
time when the crop is to be used. If for early use or marketing, the
blanching must be completed where the plants are grown; but if the
celery be for winter use the blanching may take place after the crop
has been removed from the field and placed in storage. In fact, it is
best to blanch as little as possible before storing when the product is
to be kept until late, as the keeping qualities are better while it is
unblanched. When planting for early use it is necessary to choose one
of the self-blanching varieties, such as may be conveniently blanched
by the use of boards or other similar means.
For early blanching on a small scale, such as would be employed on the
farm or in the garden of the amateur horticulturist, there are several
methods. One of the most common is by means of boards placed on edge
along each side of the row.
After the boards are in position it is a good plan to run a celery
hiller between the rows and to throw a little soil against the lower
edges of the boards to close any openings that may result from the
uneven surface of the soil.
Two or three weeks' time will be required to complete the blanching of
the early varieties, and the boards must be kept in position until the
crop is removed from the ground, after which they may be used again two
or three times during the season. If the celery is allowed to remain in
the boards too long after it has reached a marketable stage, it loses
in weight and flavor and is liable to be injured or even destroyed by
the attacks of blight. This is especially true during the earlier part
of the season, when the weather is warm. At the end of the season the
boards should be piled flat, with strips inserted at every fourth or
fifth course, and the whole pile roofed over to shed off rain; treated
in this manner they will last from ten to twelve years.
Perhaps the most satisfactory way of blanching early celery on a small
scale is by means of ordinary farm drain tiles of about 4 inches inside
diameter, placed over the plants after they have become almost fully
grown. To facilitate the work of placing the tiles over the plants,
some of the outside leaves should be pulled away and the main part of
the plant loosely tied together by means of a soft string, or, better,
with what is known as paper twine, being a string made by twisting a
strip of soft paper. This string will lose its strength as soon as it
becomes wet, and will offer no resistance to the further growth of the
plant. If the common, unglazed tiles are used the evaporation from
their surface has a tendency to keep the plant cool during the heat of
the day, and a very crisp and tender product is the result. This method
of blanching is desirable also on account of its cleanliness, as celery
treated in this way will need very little washing before marketing.
The most common method for blanching celery on a small scale is that
of banking with soil, and it is by this means that the finest flavor
can be obtained. Where the plants are set in single rows the soil
can often be partially thrown up by means of a plow, or, better, by
a celery hiller. Before the plow or banking machine is used a small
quantity of dirt must be placed around the plants by hand to hold them
in position while the earth is being thrown around them. This may also
be accomplished by tying up the plants with paper twine, as previously
recommended for use in connection with tiles.
_Storing._--The plan usually adopted where but a small quantity of
celery is to be stored for winter use is to bank up with earth and
cover the plants where grown. Place enough earth around the base of the
plants to hold them in good form, and then allow them to remain without
any further banking as long as there is not danger of a hard frost.
Celery may be safely stored in cellars provided the temperature is kept
low and plenty of ventilation maintained. The warmth and dampness of
the ordinary cellar have a tendency to cause the celery to decay, but
these conditions can frequently be overcome. Celery will readily absorb
any odor that may be present in the atmosphere of the storage place,
and care should be taken to provide sanitary conditions. When storing
in a cellar, the plants should have most of their roots attached, and
a bed of moist sand in which to set them should be provided.
[Illustration: CELERY BANKED WITH EARTH TO BLANCH IT]
_Preparing Celery for Market._--In preparing it from the rows where
grown, it is not necessary to remove the entire root from the earth,
but it may be cut off just below the surface of the soil by means of a
stiff knife. Remove the outside leaves and trim the root evenly, pack
in boxes, and load on the wagon for removal to the washing house. The
blanching boards should not be removed till necessary, and the trimmed
celery must not be allowed to lie exposed to the sun or wind for any
length of time. It is well also to have a piece of canvas to protect
the celery while it is on the wagon on the way to the washing house.
In marketing from the trenches the process is practically the same as
from the rows, except that the celery is already loosened from the soil
and the roots can be removed more easily. Upon reaching the washing
room the celery is placed upon a rack consisting of wooden slats over a
large trough and subjected to a spray of cold water to cool it and to
remove the adhering soil. After washing, it is allowed to drain; then
it is tied in bunches of 12 or more plants each, according to the size.
The bunches are packed 6 in a box for first-grade celery and 8 or 9 for
second or third grades. These boxes should be practically air-tight,
and a lining of paper should be placed in them before packing the
celery, or each bunch should be wrapped separately. The celery should
be nearly dry before it is placed in the boxes, and throughout the
entire handling must be kept as cool as possible.
_Sanitary Conditions._--It is essential that the celery should be
washed in pure water to prevent the transmission of disease germs.
Any germ, such as that producing typhoid fever, which is found in
contaminated water, is readily carried to the digestive system of
the consumer, and may or may not produce an attack of the disease,
according to the strength of the person to resist it. The washhouse and
its surroundings should be kept clean and free from any decomposing
materials. Shippers and dealers alike lose sight of the fact that
the edible portion of celery is constantly being exposed to the
contaminating effects of dirty wagons, unclean cars, and dusty markets.
Many persons have discontinued the use of celery on account of the
unclean condition in which it is served. This statement holds good for
all vegetables that are served in the raw state, but it is especially
applicable to celery.
_Estimates of Returns._--Anyone contemplating making a start in celery
growing will do well to first investigate the market prospects, and
unless satisfactory shipping arrangements can be made beforehand the
crop should be planted only on a small scale for one or two years,
until a local trade can be established. It is fair to estimate a return
of 1,500 dozen from 1 acre; and this should bring 25 cents per dozen,
at the lowest average estimate; this will yield a gross income of $375
to the acre, leaving a net balance of $125 to cover the interest on
the investment and the profit. As a matter of fact, the growers who
are making a success of celery raising--and many are doing so--receive
a net profit of $100 an acre over and above the interest on the
investment. On the other hand, hundreds of acres are grown annually
which do not much more than pay expenses, but this is due to the fact
that the soil has become exhausted and the product is consequently
undersized and inferior.--(F. B. 255, 282; Cornell E. S. 132; Colo. E.
S. 144.)