Mambo | F1 Primed Celery Seed

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Apium graveolens

CULTURE: Celery requires a fertile soil with a pH range of 6.0–7.0. Do not let the soil dry out, indoors or out. This crop needs a consistent supply of moisture throughout the season for optimum flavour and yield.

GROWING SEEDLINGS: Sow in early September or 10–12 weeks before transplanting outdoors. Sow 6 seeds per inch, 3mm deep, in 20-row, open flats, or plug trays. Keep soil moist and temperatures 21–24°C if possible. Seedlings emerge in 2–3 weeks and then temperature can be reduced to 16–21°C.

TRANSPLANTING: When seedlings have 2 true leaves, transplant to 72-cell plug trays. Transplant outdoors in late November to mid-December when weather is warm and settled. Set plants 15-20cm apart in rows 60-90cm apart. Irrigate to keep soil moist.

BOLTING: Caused by exposure of young plants to temperatures below 13°C for 10 days or more. When hardening plants before transplanting out, reduce water for 7–10 days. Do not harden off celery plants by lowering temperatures!

DISEASES AND PESTS: For leaf blights, rotate crops. Ensure adequate soil calcium and water to prevent blackheart. For Celery Mosaic (mottled leaves, twisted stems, dwarfing), control aphids.

HARVEST: Cut stalks when they are of edible size. Stalks may be blanched if desired by hilling up with soil or by placing paper collars around plants.

STORAGE: After harvest remove field heat by dunking plants in cold water. Store sound heads/roots at 0°C with 98–100% relative humidity. Celery will store for 1–2 months. CAUTION: In rare instances contact with the foliage can result in a severe rash. When working with this crop on hot, sunny days, we recommend wearing long sleeves and long pants and washing any exposed skin surfaces as soon as possible after contact.

Germination; 24C
Days To Maturity: 83 Days