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Celery
Frank J. Dainello, Extension Horticulturist
Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University |
Click photo to enlarge in new window. |
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VARIETIES
Utah 52-70, Summer or Giant Pascal, Florida 683, Rocket, Starlet, Summer
or Giant Pascal |
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SOIL PREFERENCE
Muck soils are ideal, will grow in well drained, fertile, mineral soils
(pH 6.0 - 7.5) with good water holding capacity. |
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OPTIMUM GROWING CONDITIONS
Has exacting climatic requirements, does best when monthly mean temperature
is 60 - 70oF. Average high temperature above 75oF
in month preceding harvest limits vegetative growth and quality. Temperatures
below 40 - 55oF induce bolting. |
ESTABLISHMENT METHODS
Usually transplanted; direct seeding not recommended due to problems in
obtaining uniform stands.
| Optimum time= |
Transplant when air temperature >50oF. |
| Seedling spacing= |
Double rows with 6 - 8" in-row spacing on 40" raised beds. |
| Approx No. seed/oz= |
72,000 |
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FERTILITY/FERTILIZATION
Rates presented as actual lbs/A N2, P2O5 and K2O (base actual rates on
soil test results).
| Generalized rate lbs/A |
175 - 100 - 130. |
| N- |
150 - 225; Half applied pre-plant, side-dress remainder beginning
3 wks after transplanting, limit side-dressing to 25 - 30 lbs per
application to prevent excessive growth. |
| P- |
75 - 125. |
| K- |
100 - 150 usually needed in East Texas only. |
| Ca- |
10 lbs/A Calcium chloride or 15 lbs/A calcium nitrate as a directed
spray to plants maybe needed if black heart is a persistent problem;
can inject through irrigation water. |
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| Note- Apply all P2O5
and K2O pre-plant. Use 1 8 oz cup starter solution/plt or dip roots prior
to transplanting into starter solution (3 lbs 11 - 48 - 0 or 11 - 55 -
0 per 55 gals water) |
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WATER/IRRIGATION
30 - 35"; uniform distribution a must with peak demand the last month
prior to harvest. |
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PEST MANAGEMENT
| Major Diseases |
Control |
| Leaf blights |
Bravo, fixed copper, Quadris, Tilt, Topsin M |
| Sclerotinia (pink rot) |
Bravo |
| Fusarium yellows |
Disease free transplants |
| Blackheart |
Factors related to calcium nutrition |
| Stem cracking |
Factors related to boron nutrition |
| Brown check |
Factors related to excessive potassium and boron nutrition |
| Nematode |
K-Pam, Telone II, Telone C-17 |
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| Major Insects |
Control |
| Aphid |
Admire, acephate, Assail, Fulfill |
| Flea beetle |
Guthion, Sevin |
| Leafhopper |
permethrin, Sevin |
| Leafminer |
Agri-mek, Spintor, Trigard |
| Beet armyworm |
Lannate, Larvin, Proclaim, Spintor |
| Cabbage looper |
B.t.'s, permethrin, Proclaim, Spintor |
| Mite |
Agri-Mek, Kelthane, Vydate |
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| Weeds |
Control |
| Preplant incorporated |
Prefar, Treflan |
| Preemergence |
Prefar |
| Postemergence |
Caparol, Lorox, Poast, Select |
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| * NOTE--The above is
a partial listing of controls intended as examples. Some labels may have
been revoked since the publication of this guide. Refer to product labels
for specifics and use accordingly. Failure to do so may result in crop
injury, death and/or citation for law violation. Humans, animals and the
environment may also be adversely affected by misuse. |
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HARVEST
Hand, can be mechanically harvested
| Days after transplanting= |
100 - 135 |
| Containers= |
Bulk wagons |
| Grades= |
U.S. Extra, U.S. #1, U.S. #2 - based on uniformity, size, and
defects. |
| Packaging/Handling= |
Ctns, 12-18 film bags(2-3 stalks/bag). |
| Anticipated yield/A= |
55,000 lbs; 2,200 ctns |
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TRANSIT CONDITIONS
32oF and 95% RH; shelf-life 2 - 3 months. |
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COMMENTS/PRODUCTION KEYS
- Excessive growth can cause pithiness.
- Boron-potassium imbalance can cause brown checking.
- Blackheart (calcium imbalance) induced by moisture stress is particularly
a problem during periods of high temperatures. If wilting occurs,
spray calcium directly into heart of plants.
- Harvest stalks when of sufficient size to market but prior to development
of pith in petioles. Cool immediately after harvest to prevent wilting
and to maintain optimum quality.
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Texas Cooperative
Extension, Horticulture Crop Guides Series
Revised November, 2003
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/vegetable/cropguides/celery.html
Prepared for Web delivery by Brooke Bludau, Amanda Zan, and Dan Lineberger |
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