Grow Your Own Celery Starts
Springtime
We are rapidly turning into summer here where we live, and a sure indication is the start of all the gardening efforts visible. Take for example the “sugar pea” plant that has started and is about an inch high, or the cantaloupe vine with its first blossom making its presence (already).
Let's Talk
But that’s not what I wanta chat about today. I heard that you could do something with a normal household food, something that’s available year round. Guess what it is. (Oh, OK -- I know, you already read the title).
You’re right, but for those folks that did try to identify it, it’s the butt end of a celery heart that is cut and is soaking in water. This is a picture of the new growth after three weeks. The first week it showed no growth at all, but it didn’t turn brown so I just kept it wet and waited. The second week started to show some very tiny growth coming right out of the center. The third week is what you see now.
How To
Start by cutting off the root end as shown below, (leaving about a half inch or so, and using the butt end), you have to do nothing but put it in water. I covered up to where I had cut, but left the top open to get air. We then put the dish in window to catch the afternoon sun. The upper part we cleaned with clear cold tap water and anticipated putting a lot of teeth marks in them.
Week Two
The following week we came up with a lot of additional growth, but I noticed one thing. On one of the bottoms, I clipped it too short and the growth is spreading where the one I cut higher, the growth is going up and seems to be very strong. Notice the one on the right – it already has roots starting to grow.
I’ll keep both and eventually put them in the garden to see what happens next.
Continuing into Week Four
Well, at week 4, it’s time to put them in soil as they have nice long roots by now. The roots are hard to see with the camera as they are a lot like a white human hair, but if you look closely, they are there. Anyway, I planted them in good wet soil and set them outside with the rest of the new greenery. B-I-G mistake. The next day they were laid over and gone. I left them alone and the start of week 6, one of them has one or two little sprigs showing up again.
Another Opportunity
It’s beginning to look like this grandpa knows very little about this kind of thing, but in spite of all my efforts, I think I will get one growing up to be a true celery stock. We shall see --- In the meantime, I keep watering these, but I have another one started and will try once more, just to see, one way or another.
No -- just slowly shake your head and say (to yourself) -- “it’s a pity – he’s losing it” !!!
Yes, we are re-starting the process again because we know it is possible, but next time I will be more careful and not put the starts out in the the Southwest heat too soon.
Grandpa "Roy"
June 2014
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Resources
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www.earthbagplans.wordpress.com
We moved from the city to the country in 2005. Since then, we have been building structures, raising livestock and growing some of our own foods. We are crazy about family, nutrition and want the best for our growing family.
