Growing Chinese Celery

While organizing my gardening tools and fertilizers, I found a packet of Chinese Celery (in Chinese, it's called Kheen Choy or in Malay, Daun Sup) seeds that I bought last April from a fertilizer shop in Tangkak town during our trip to Alokarama for the Green Thumb Workshop. I totally forgot that I have these seeds. I sowed the seeds on 9th April and simply hope they will germinate and grow. Through my readings from blogs and forum, some seeds that past its validity may not germinate. So, I didn't give these seeds high hope. However, surprise awaiting me!!! I just saw some Chinese Celery seedling in one of my pots!

For only RM2 per packet, there are many seeds inside the aluminium foil. And the seeds exude the fragrant similar to the one you get from celery.






It's exactly 1 month since I sowed the Chinese Celery seeds. Seedlings are sprouting out from the ground!! I am waiting for them to grow into bushy stalks.

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More about Chinese Celery

Also known as Oriental Celery. Chinese Celery is the same species as the European variety most people in the West are familiar with, Apium graveolens, but it has a number of important differences. Chinese celery has much thinner stalks and a stronger taste than its European relative. It can range in color from white to dark green. Chinese celery is rarely served raw, but is a common ingredient in cooked Chinese and Vietnamese dishes.

Days to harvesting: 100-120 days

Information from Garden Guides:

Days to Maturity: 45

When to Sow Outside: 5 weeks before last average frost date. Seeds will not germinate well is the soil is warm. In warm climates, sow in fall for a winter crop. If protected, it can withstand temperatures as low as 15 degrees.

When to Sow Inside: 2 - 4 weeks before you plan to plant out.

Seed Depth: Press onto surface of soil.

Seed Spacing: 1"

Row Spacing: 12"

Days to Emerge: 15 to 30

Thinning: When 1/2" tall thin to 4" to 6" apart

Read the experience of another fellow gardener, Jerry Coleby-Williams's Celery Planting here.