Cultivation of celery in polytunnel GUIDEBOOK SERIES ON TUNNEL CULTIVATION
CELERY Celery is a valuable and delicious vegetable with many health benefits. The edible parts of the plant are the root and leaves. White fleshy bulbs and dark green leaves are used as a supplement to many dishes and recipes. The aromatic spicy flavor offers a unique aroma. Celery in the form of spice can also replace salt. This vegetable contains many valuable vitamins, mineral salts, lots of phosphorus, calcium and a large amount of fiber. Many famous actors and actresses turn to celery during diet because they fill the body with needed ingredients and thanks to a large dose of vitamin C, much more than citrus, it effectively works on skin and has antiinflammatory properties.
SOIL FOR GROWING CELERY
Celery has high water requirements, especially when the root starts to grow. Any deficiency leads to the development of lateral roots rather than the main one. Try to avoid such a situation, otherwise yield will be poor. The plant also has considerable soil requirements. It optimally develops in a compact, humusrich lumpy structure. Wetlands or sandy, light grounds and are not suitable to grow celery. The ideal pH for this plant is 6.5 to 7.
POSITIONNING CELERY
The plant needs a lot of sunlight to develop at every growing stage. It is introduced into the polytunnel when the inside temperature is maintained at 12 ° C. Growing celery from the seed is a long process, so many gardeners prepare seedling. When associated with fore crop, the effective spacing is 40 x 40 cm or 30 x 20 cm without fore cropping. It is a plant with a long growing time, which is why it is often grown as a main crop. However, before allocating the full area with celery, you can grow spinach, lettuce or kale. It can be grown the first year after manure fertilization.
ROTATION
To get a high yield of celery, you should plant it after plants with low nutrient requirements and deeply rooted plants. As usual, it is not planted after other vegetables from the same family.
PLANTING CELERY
Celery is most commonly planted from seedling. Due to its long growing period , a much more effective way to produce it is to introduce seedlings into the polytunnel.
Preparing seedlings requires labour. Before planting, the seedling is kept for three months. If this does not discourage you, seed should be sown in February. It is good to treat them early to reduce the chances of disease later. Seeds need a lot of light, so do not cover them and give them as much exposure time as possible when the plant emerges. The temperature during this development phase must be maintained at 24 ° C. After germination, it is lowered to between 15 and 18 ° C. When they grow three leaves, they can be transferred into single pots.
CELERY
CARE
When introducing celery seedlings early into the greenhouse, cover crops with agro fabric. The plant is very sensitive to low temperatures, so it is important to protect it from frost. Mulching limits the development of weeds, from which celery can be affected. Any neighbouring vegetable should be placed in such a way that they do not obscure celery where they mature. Systematic soil loosening improves the phytosanitary condition of the soil. This means that soil environment thrives , and the main bulb takes its oval shape.
GUIDEBOOK SERIES ON TUNNEL CULTIVATION
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