How to Grow Celery in Texas Clay Soil
Growing celery in Texas presents unique challenges. Although the plant is a cool season crop, it can be grown in fall or spring in most of the state. Celery prefers sandy soil with lots of organic components. Since clay soil in Texas is structured differently in different areas, you will need to test the soil to determine how to change the soil structure.
Test and Amend Your Soil
Take a soil sample from your garden, To do this, dig a hole that is 6 inches deep. With your shovel, slice a 1 inch layer from the side of the hole.
Place this soil sample into a bucket. Repeat step 1 at least 6 more times.
- Growing celery in Texas presents unique challenges.
- Take a soil sample from your garden, To do this, dig a hole that is 6 inches deep.
Mix the soil and allow it to dry before placing it in a brown paper bag.
Log on to the Texas A&M Extension Service’s Soil, Water and Forage Testing Laboratory website (see Resources). This website has paperwork you can download to fill out and submit your soil sample as well as instructions for how to send the sample in.
Purchase amendments for your garden based on the results of your soil test.
Break up your soil with a rototiller to a depth of 6 inches.
Spread your amendments over the top of the soil to a depth of 4 inches. Mix the soil amendments into the soil by passing the rototiller over the soil again.
- Mix the soil and allow it to dry before placing it in a brown paper bag.
- Break up your soil with a rototiller to a depth of 6 inches.
Plant your Celery
Start celery from seed indoors 6 weeks before the last average frost date by sowing seeds into peat moss-filled flats.
Cover the flats with plastic and place under a grow light. Uncover the flats when the seeds sprout. Continue to keep them moist.
Take the flats outdoors during daylight hours one week before transplant to harden plants off.
Dig planting holes for celery in the soil when you are ready to transplant. Celery should have at least three mature leaves and an established root system before you transplant it. Space celery rows 2 feet apart and plants 12 inches apart.
- Start celery from seed indoors 6 weeks before the last average frost date by sowing seeds into peat moss-filled flats.
- Dig planting holes for celery in the soil when you are ready to transplant.
Place the celery root ball into the planting hole and cover with soil.
Cover the ground with black plastic to block weeds and warm plant roots. Water with up to 2 inches of water every seven days.
Tip
Possible amendments include gypsum or sand to increase drainage, compost and well rotted manure to increase the organic content of soil, powdered limestone to raise the pH of soil, powdered Sulfur to lower the soil’s pH and a balanced (10-10-10) fertilizer to increase the nutritional content of soil.
Related Articles
References
- Texas A&M University Extension: Texas Home Vegetable Gardening Guide
- Utah State University Extension: Celery in the Garden
- Hopkins Technology: Growing Vegetables in the Garden (Part 1)
- NC State University: Home Garden Celery in Eastern North Carolina
- University of Minnesota Extension: Growing Salad Vegetable Crops
Resources
Tips
- Possible amendments include gypsum or sand to increase drainage, compost and well rotted manure to increase the organic content of soil, powdered limestone to raise the pH of soil, powdered Sulfur to lower the soil's pH and a balanced (10-10-10) fertilizer to increase the nutritional content of soil.
Writer Bio
Tracy Morris has been a freelance writer since 2000. She has published novels and numerous online articles. Her work has appeared in national magazines and newspapers including "Ferrets," "CatFancy," "Lexington Herald Leader" and "The Tulsa World." She holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from the University of Arkansas.
