Celery query

[bobbin]

I have grown celery from seed.The problem is I have grown the trench type which is soooooo much work.I have read of celery fly and slugs being a threat,so can any one give me any advice or tips on raising celery?I have 4 planted in a trench so far,

[Paulottie]

Best advice is to grow celeriac instead!!!

However when did you sow? April is ideal under glass. You should prick them out quickly as overcrowding checks growth. Rich open soil and never checking the growth is the secret of really good celery.

The trench is normally 2 ft deep! with a further spit of what will probably be subsoil removed, discarded and after breaking the bottom up to improve drainage replaced with well manured topsoil from elsewhere. If you have leaf mould and/or peat (unenvironmentally sound though) to add so much the better as it will enjoy the open texture.

Don't bother with the trench unless you have good free draining soil, on clay it will act as a sump and you might consider earthing up instead.

Flood the trench in dry weather. and feed every 3 or four weeks. You can stretch fleece over the top of the trench to stop the fly should you wish.

When fully grown, in September, cut off any offshoots tie up with raffia and wrap in brown paper -again tied (to stop earth getting in the hearts) then draw in soil. They take about 6 weeks to blanch. It is a good idea to shed water from the top of the ridge so it doesn't soak into the hearts (2 planks on edge ideal)

Keel slugs are a pain in the a**e. Last time much of the crop was ruined inside and it was a matter of cutting it about for cooking. Only a few were fit for the table and I ended up having to buy some for my Xmas stilton I swore never again but proper celery is much nicer than shop brought. I suppose nemaslug might work...but an expensive option eh!

good luck