any tips for planting celery?

[antipodes]

I saw a tray of celery plants at the supermarket plant section and completely gave in. There are 12 plants and hopefully they will see me through the autumn - I love celery!
But I haven't grown it before. The plants are about 15 cm high I would say. ANy tips for planting them? Do I bury any particular parts? A few of the outer leaves are a bit sad looking - do I just nip them off?
Does it like full sun? Well just about every thing on my lot is full sun so not much I can do about that.

In brief, any help much appreciated!
To tell the truth I have an organic veg box but I am trying to plant enough so that I can give up that at the end of the summer and just rely mostly on my allotment for our veg. hence the big push to autumn and winter crops!

[antipodes]

[vegmandan]

Depending on whether the variety is a trench one or self blanching there are two approaches.

Self blanching ones are planted about 9-12 inches apart in a block rather than a row to promote shade and blanching,thats about it for this type.

Trench ones need to be planted in a shallow trench about 12-15 inches wide and 3-5 inches deep about a ft apart.

plant at the same depth as they are already growing.

In August or when they are about a foot tall tidy any straggly side growth and then surround the stalks with something like cardboard and fill the trench in,gradually keep earthing up untill you just have foliage growing from the top.

I have seen some people just surround the stalks with silver backed bubble wrap to exclude the light so they don't need to earth the plant up.

Needless to say It's not the easiest plant to grow.

Self blanching ones are easier. :)

[antipodes]

It's green "D'Elne" variety, it says full sun, self blanching, what does that imply? It also says rich soil, I might pop it in where the spuds were, that was nicely manures over the winter.

[shaunster]

it means you dont need to worry with the cardboard etc, just plant them close together and as they grow they will shade each other

[antipodes]

AH ok I see. Should I still earth them up as they grow? I heard that recommended too?

[BAK]

Beware that self-blanching types are not hardy and they will succumb to the first frost.

[antipodes]

Ok will remember that - we don't get frost here till pretty late, I will try to either eat them before that or to freeze them for winter stews and soups before they cark it!
I feel a bit reticent now, I keep reading that celery is hard to grow! But I bought the darn things so I will give it a try. I only paid 3.20 euros for 12 plants, that's about 2.50£ so I guess if they fail I've not lost much! I will try and do what I have read, lots of compost in the soil, mulch them up and keep well watered.

[BAK]

Trench type are difficult .. but self-blanching are not - key thing is lots of water.

[Deb P]

I only grow self blanching types, plant in a shallow trench which I regularly flood with water...find mine will last overwinter with a few outer sticks frosted!