Celery Transplanting

[kath]

Originally Posted by jmsieglaff

Hi,

I'm trying celery for the first time this year. We sowed celery seeds (indoors) at the same time as our onions and will sow another batch about 5-6 weeks later (about mid Feb). The purpose of the two indoor sowing is to see what sowing date yields the most appropriately sized transplants at plant-out time.

For those that start celery from seed--do when do you pot-up the little seedlings into their own pot that will carry them to plant-out size? I'm thinking after they are maybe ~3" tall?

Thanks!
Justin

I initially sow as thinly as I can in 72-cell size containers. I thin to one seedling/cell once a winner is discernible. Once they are a couple inches tall, I check the root systems carefully until it seems they need to be potted up to a larger size container. Not sure how happy their roots are about being disturbed, so I try to keep them as happy as possible. For me, they take 8-10 weeks to reach the size I like to plant outdoors- that doesn't count the rather long time they take to germinate.

[bower]

Well... one single year experience, I can't give you weeks but it seemed to me if they had no space they just stayed happily small. When I moved them to 72 cell and fed them they took a big jump, when I potted up in solo cups also they seemed to get big in a hurry then stopped except every time i fed some liquid ferts, bang they'd be noticeably bigger within a few days. Heavy feeders. Don't think they need a lot of space to survive or do well, but if the pots are small, liquid ferts will grow them bigger.
If you think they're getting too big too early for your plant date, just keep em moist without fertilizer and they'll just stay as they are until ready.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by bower

Well... one single year experience, I can't give you weeks but it seemed to me if they had no space they just stayed happily small. When I moved them to 72 cell and fed them they took a big jump, when I potted up in solo cups also they seemed to get big in a hurry then stopped except every time i fed some liquid ferts, bang they'd be noticeably bigger within a few days. Heavy feeders. Don't think they need a lot of space to survive or do well, but if the pots are small, liquid ferts will grow them bigger.
If you think they're getting too big too early for your plant date, just keep em moist without fertilizer and they'll just stay as they are until ready.

That is exactly how I am or was controlling the growth of my tomato plants.

Worth

[bower]

Originally Posted by Worth1

That is exactly how I am or was controlling the growth of my tomato plants.

Worth

Yep, the only difference is, tomatoes start to look ratty pretty quick if they're out of space and food. The celery seemed to tolerate small space/low light or 'being on hold' really well.