Evening star., 1949-07-17


sential at this season. will insure
plants q good start.
One Variety Usually Enough
Formerly, Golden Self -Blanch-
ing was the standard, largely be-
cause Of the ease Of getting
blanched stalks. With green stalks
more popular. gardeners are grow
ing Utah Pascal. Some say Sum-
mer Pascal is best for an early
crop. But since family can use
only a few stalks at time, there
is little point in trying to grow two
or more varieties.
Plants may be grown from seed
sown in April or May which
should be transplanted at least
once. preferably twice to insure a
good fibrous root system. In buy
ing from a commercial plantsman
it is desirable to ask for plants
that have been transplanted
twice. They will cost more than
single transplants. but will be
worth the difference in cost.
Where favorable winter storage
| is available much larger plant
ing can be made than where the
crop must be used before freezing
weather. Light frosts do not in
jure celery. If only a dozen or
two plants are to be raised the
usual method is to plant them 8
to IL inches apart in block.
With this method they are usually
so crowded that they hlanch
themselves. However. most gar
deners prefer to plant in rows With
the plants 6 inches apart in the
row. Short double rows are
preferable to long single rows
since the hilling and blanching
require less work. Double rows
are usually made s to 8 inches
apart.
Cut Back Tops, Provide Shade.
To enable the plants to make
good start 1t is advisable to
cut back the tops and to shade
them for a few days. A long
plank propped up over the plants
seems to be a favorite method
of shading celery plants, although
newspapers arched over the plants
and held in place with earth are
effective.
Keep the plants growing with
adequate moisture and light
feelings OF q high-nitrogen fer
tilizer, the feelings might we'll be
liquid. t.e., a tablespoonful Of soda
or sulphate of ammonia to gal
Ion Of water.
AS the plants get tall. 1t is well
to begin pulling some earth around
the bases to keep the stems
upright. This serves two purposes:
/. It keeps the plants compact and
thus prevents soil from getting into
their hearts. 2. It makes blanching
much easier If that is desired. No
effort, however, should be made to
blanch until shortly before the
harvest season, and then only If
white stalks are wanted.
Blanching.. If desired, may be
done in several ways. A metal
shield may be purchased which
slips over the plants, holding them
in place for the placing Of paper
blanching tube. The shield and
paper collars may be obtained
from garden supply houses. A
second method consists Of placing
planks on either side of the rows
and stalking them in place. And
third, earth may be pulled up
around each stalk and f1rmed into
place with the spade. The stalks
should be dry when this is done
to avoid rot.
Stalks Blanch in Storage.
Stalks for winter storage need
not be blanched since they are
normally lifted and placed in boxes
of soil, or in a trench. Whether
placed in boxes for storage in the
basement, or are placed on the
floor and dirt pulled around them,
they will blanch satisfactorily,
hence, blanching in the garden is
unnecessary for that portion Of the
crop to be stored.
Some gardeners have success
fully kept their celery in dirt In
the garden until after the holiday
season. To do this. in most cases.
requires the use of dirt mounds.
usually supported by planks. And,
it SHOULD not be attempted on a
very large scale except in the more
protected sections of the city.
Home garden celery is relatively
free from insect pests and diseases.
There is a rather large caterpillar
that sometimes feeds on the foliage
and Is most easily controlled by
hand picking Occasionaliyrust may
attack q planting and bordeaux
may be used for its control. How
ever, there are better and less dis
figuring sprays which may be used
should control be necessary.
Emphasis has been placed upon
the planting of well-rooted plants
In q rich. moist soil. Some will add
q third requirement, lime. In most
gardens, where the soil was lined
In the spring at time Of prepara-
ton, additional lime is unnecessary.
Gardeners growing celery for the
first time will need to experiment
with the amount Of fertilizer
needed. Roughly speaking, 10
pounds of the 5-10-5 or similar
mixture will be needed for 100
foot row. This is in addition to
any well rotted manure or compost
available which is mixed into the
row at time Of soil preparation.
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