The main difference between root celery and leaf is that the root is the most valuable in it. Accordingly, it is necessary to exert maximum efforts, so that its root is sufficiently large and juicy. You also need to know exactly when to dig out the root celery to get the maximum result.
Cultivate the root celery seedling method, that is, planted seeds in the tubs in February so that before the onset of heat had already been planted in the open ground. At the stage of growing seedlings, you need to make a double pick, shortening the main root each time by about a third.
In root celery, useful substances do not accumulate in the leaves, but gradually "leave" them into the root crop, so you do not need to cut off the aerial part during the summer. And only a few weeks before harvesting it is necessary to cut off the lateral lower leaves and shoots.
The difference in caring for root celery is that it does not need to be hacked. On the contrary, from his root the earth is gradually shoveled, while removing the lateral roots in parallel. Soil, where root celery grows, should be moist, but not wet. Compliance with these conditions is necessary in order for the root crop to form a beautiful, regular shape, without lateral processes and roots.
Make sure that by the end of July the root is already well protruding above the ground level. Periodically feed it with ashes, nettle infusion or slurry.
Harvesting of root celery
In inexperienced agronomists, a quite reasonable question may arise - when to remove the root celery? This issue is extremely important, because if you remove the root crop before the deadline, it will not have time to ripen to the end and gain the right size and weight.
The time of harvesting of root celery comes in October, you do not need to rush with its collection, as it tolerates the cooling well. You can give it to grow before the first frost. But at the same time, make sure that the root crop does not fall into the frost - this will negatively affect the process of its storage.
You can dig a celery with a pitchfork to avoid damage to the root. And the easiest way is just to pull it out. After that, its green part is cut off almost under the base. The tops can be left right here on the beds - next year they will serve for fertilization and sanitary treatment of the soil.
How to store root celery?
Depending on the storage location, you need to process the roots before storing them. For example, if you store it in a cellar, you just need to cut the tops. If you store at home, you need to wash the roots, cleanse the remains of the earth, put them in separate bags or wrap them in film and put them in the refrigerator. Celery is not particularly fond of winter storage conditions, and can lie until the summer of next year.
It is better to put it in the offices, where you usually store carrots and beets. In the freezer, the celery loses its properties, and it can be consumed only in thermally processed dishes.
About the benefits of celery
Useful properties of celery and its use in cooking and traditional medicine is a separate chapter. Briefly, we can say that you can eat root celery directly in raw form. It is added to salads,
Root celery, used raw form, saturates our body with all the necessary trace elements. Add it to salads from fresh vegetables, in "Olivier", in vegetable stew.
And for those who want to lose weight, celery will be the best assistant. It contains substances that help to cope with unnecessary calories and get rid of excess weight.