Did you know that you can grow another complete celery stalk from the bottom piece that you cut off and throw away? This is new to me too but I have been doing it this year. I use a lot of celery when cooking and I hope to save quite a bit by regrowing it through out the spring and summer.
When I bring the celery home now, I cut the end off first then put the rest into the refrigerator.
Take an ordinary bunch of celery from the grocery store or cut from your garden, much like the one in the picture at the top. Using a large knife, cut the bottom off the stalk. Simple!
I usually set the bottom piece on a saucer of warm water overnight to get it started. Also because I am usually busy cooking and working in the kitchen when I do this and don't have time to plant it right away. I think this gives it a head start.
When I have time, I will take that piece and plant it just like it is, in the vegetable garden with the stalk side up. Just dig a small hole, fill it with water and set the end in the hole, then cover it up with an inch or so of soil and water thoroughly.
This is one planted about three days ago.
This one was planted about 10 days ago.
It will grow a brand new top to be cut and used, then you can plant the bottom again for more new growth at the top.
I plan to start planting my cut off celery bottoms in small pots or trays late next winter so that I have a few doz to plant out into the vegetable garden in May. I wonder if I can grow it in a sunny window all winter!
Once you have it growing, you can probably cut it off on an "as needed" basis and just keep it regrowing in the garden or pot.
I may never need to buy celery again!
22 comments:
What a great idea! I hope that cutting it on an "as needed" basis will work the same way as with lettuce. When I pinch off a lettuce leaf at the base, it will grow back, so I'm going to try it with the celery, too. Thanks!
That is SOOOO cool!! I love cooking with it and grow it in pots on the front porch.But this is a good idea!!
That is awesome! I am buying celery this weekend and giving it a shot! Thanks ;)
Oh WOW! Thanks for sharing this! I grew celery from seed this year and it took forever to get those TINY seedlings to take off. I will pop in some bottoms this week and see how they do against my transplants. I'm pretty excited!!!!
I am excited about the concept of growing an entire garden row of celery this way!
It chops and freezes well for cooking, like onions and peppers.
Golly, geez! I always learn something new from you! Now off to the store to get a stalk of celery......
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/
What a great idea! The hubby just got me a couple bunches of celery yesterday, i am going to try this today. Thank you for sharing this, celery from seed always seemed like such a hassle for me, i think i might get somewhere with this.
I have had no luck growing celery for seed either, but this way is fun! I am glad I could be of help!
Cool. I'm going to try it.
How clever. I am trying this for sure!
Blessings, Linda
Very interesting, I am looking forward to trying this one of these days. It really is pretty amazing how tenacious some plants can be.
I included this link in my Friday Link Love! I loved this post, I cannot wait to grow my own celery now :D
http://onecookandtwochefs.blogspot.com/2010/07/moldy-garlic-sometimes-life-throws.html
Thank you, Kris. I'm so glad you liked it!
Sheryl- Love this idea. Oh, love your quote too. So perfect. (God's Word IS perfect!)
I found you after discovering Kris' blog (onecheftwocooks). Nice that she posted the link to your page.
This celery thing is very good news to me! We go through LOTS of celery at The New Deli, so I'll have a whole lotta celery nubs to work with.
I should've figured this out, since I've seen old, old celery start to sprout new growth in my home hydrator. Genius! Thank you! Can't wait to try it. (Oh, and I'm posting the link to this info on my blog too :)
Great Jennifer, thank you!
I was walking into the grocery store today thinking - why am I not growing celery in my garden - I grow 'bout everything else I use.... oh yea, growing it from seed it rough!
When I get home my sweetie mentions that he saw this post and thought I would find it interesting!
Well, it just so happens, honey, that I bought a bunch of it today - lets get planting! :-)
Try it with onions too. You'll get 2 or more new onion plants from each bottom you root.
If you replant carrot tops and radishes they will produce seeds that can be saved and replanted.
Some herbs can be rooted and replanted also. Basil is especially easy to root in a cup of water.
What you are doing is a form of cloning.
Awesome!!! It works on bokchoy also. I'm already seeing growth on cuttings from 2 days ago and it is still soaking in water. I will have to plant them soon.
This is amazing! What a great idea! To think, I have been throwing away all of those celery bottoms when they could have been put to good use. Thank you for sharing this!
I live in Bundaberg Qld Australia, and I cut off the base and left it in water for a few days until I saw new growth. Then planted in the garden where it has been for a couple of months. But all I am getting are skinny stalks, no thick stalks like you buy in the store. So what am I doing wrong?
I live in Bundaberg Qld Australia, and I cut off the base and left it in water for a few days until I saw new growth. Then planted in the garden where it has been for a couple of months. But all I am getting are skinny stalks, no thick stalks like you buy in the store. So what am I doing wrong?
Until the base has a large full root system, the stalks will probably be smaller. Still...they're free :)
Post a Comment