Jun
29
Post by community member: Sheryl - Runningtrails
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 and it works! I use a lot of celery when cooking and I hope to save quite a bit by re-growing it throughout the spring and summer.
When I bring the celery home, I cut the end off first then put the rest into the refrigerator.
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. 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. After re-growing celery, you can cut and plant the bottom again for more new growth from the top.
I plan to start planting my cut celery bottoms in small pots or trays late next winter so that I have a few dozen 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 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!
You can also find Sheryl at Providence Acres. Interested in contributing a guest post to the Farm Bell blog? Read information here for Farm Bell blog submissions.
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Comments
43 Comments • Comments Feed
Ruthmarie says:
Holy cats! I’ve always wondered as I hacked off the bottom of a celery bunch whether there might be a use other than compost fodder. I go through a lot of celery and the price just keeps inching up … even here in CA. What a gem of an idea! Thank you!
GrannyTrace says:
HOW COOL!! I AM IN!! and ready to try! Love your post.
Thanks for sharing!!
Granny Trace 🙂CindyP says:
WOW!!! Thanks for sharing with us Sheryl!!!! How long does it take to grow celery to the harvest point this way?
monica says:
Wow this looks so much easier than growing from seed! I bought a packet and have tried growing it three times now–The last time a nice little batch sprouted, but hubby thought they were weeds and used it to step on it to keep his feet from sinking into the mud. (sigh) I am going to buy a batch of celery today and get it started. From the description of cutting off the bottom, the same root can be replanted many times–truly sustainable.
Celery is awesome in homemade potato salad and just about any soup.- See AlsoAbout Coral Mushrooms (& a few Coral Mushroom Recipes) | Kitchen FrauVegan Focaccia Bread Recipe with Herbs + Topping IdeasCompany Mashed Potatoes | Walking on Sunshine Recipes
Pete says:
Seems like we sprouted celery this way in some science class many years ago, but even that didn’t spark the thought to plant it in the ground for more celery! GREAT idea!!
Did try growing some last year from little plants from my plant guy, but would not call them much of a success – little, bitty stalks that were just a novelty, not really usable.
Thanks!!
daiseymae says:
this is so clever! why didn’t I think of that? oh, yeah, brainless here. thanks for this wonderful tip. I love this.
Sunshine Mom says:
After I read this I ran straight to my fridge and cut off the bottom of my celery. 🙂 I can’t wait to plant it in the garden! Thank you!!!!
Jennifer says:
How cool is that?!?! & I have 2 bunches of celery in my fridge right now…. the ends will be going in the garden this weekend! They will keep the potatoes, shallots, onions & garlic company, all of which sprouted and got stuck in the ground too!
Sheryl - Runningtrails says:
I don’t know how long it takes to get to harvest size like this. The first one I planted about 6 weeks ago is about a foot tall now, I think. I haven’t looked at it in a few days.
When I have used up the celery in my fridge, I am going to start cutting off what I need, a little at a time, from what is growing in the garden. So I won’t really be harvesting a full celery until fall, likely.
I am so glad this is helpful!
HeatherB -I Wanna Farm says:
I just tossed one of these the other day. The one in the fridge is going in the garden! I’m going to try it indoors, too.
rosemary+++ says:
Thanks for sharing I am going to try this. I do have 3 celery plants growing which I planted from seed. This is the first year that I tried growing celery.
Jo says:
This is so awesome! Did you know you can also can celery? I did it last year and it has been so handy this winter for casseroles and soups! Just wash and slice into pieces. Cover with boiling water and boil 3 minutes. Drain, reserving the liquid. Pack into jars, add 1/2 tsp salt if desired and cover with hot liquid, leaving 1 inch of headspace. Process pints, half pints or those supercute little 1/2 cup jars at 10 pounds pressure for 30 minutes. I learned this from Jackie Clay at her website on wwwbackwoodshome.com – worked great for me!
Sheryl - Runningtrails says:
That is great! I plan to start canning this year, if time permits. I freeze it, chopped and just add handfulls directly from the freezer to whatever I am cooking. Its no good raw after freezing but great for cooking! I do the same with onions and peppers.
Jo says:
So, do you actually cover the entire piece with 1″ of soil? I can’t tell from the photo, you bury the whole thing completely?
Sheryl - Runningtrails says:
I did. I buried it completely but I don’t think you need to. I’m sure it will grow if you leave the cut top near the soil surface.
farmershae says:
Um, YAY!!!!! This is the bestest thing ever! What else is in my compost bin that I can throw in the garden and make grow?
Barbtex says:
Awesome…something to learn each day. Thank you for posting this. I am going to try this.
dsmithson says:
aha.. I had to activate my account… Cool celery idea. Does this work with all celery? have the stores hybydtized the celery? what will happen if you wait till spring as its now fall 2010? I’m new to this gardening thing, but I’m gona try it out.
Sheryl - Runningtrails says:
It works with the celery that I buy from the store. I don’t think it has been hybridized. It will work in the spring too.
pat says:
This is so cool! I’ve always cut the bottom off, and chopped it up to add to my compost pail under the sink. I’m going to try this too!
Kathy says:
Do you completely cover the celery bottom that you put into the ground? I surely want to try this!
Sheryl - Runningtrails says:
I bury it very shallowly and even leave a little stem sticking up, if there is a stem still attached. I think it’s just important that the bottom be buried. I will be potting mine up throughout this winter and growing on windowsill until spring. At that time I will plant them in the garden and grow as “cut and come again” celery.
TeaCup says:
This is great! I really HATE the blanched celery you find in the supermarket. Now celery that hasn’t been blanched, it tastes like something, but the stuff from the market is just crunchy water in my opinion.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
Judi
lisabetholson says:
Sheryl, I found this while surfing CITR and am amazed, I have to try this also. I had a question,but can’t think of it now. My DH only likes celery with peanut butter on it, so maybe he can eat more if it is not the store stuff like Judi commented on. Oh, maybe this is the question. Have you actually had success with growing celery in the winter?
I do have a pineapple tree growing on the patio.Sheryl - Runningtrails says:
I don’t grow it mid-winter, but it is very frost hardy, so I can plant it very early spring, almost as soon as the ground is workable and it will grow into late fall. I would have to winter it over in a pot indoors. I grow enough in the summer to chop and freeze for cooking that I don’t need to winter it over indoors.
grandmacline says:
Thanks for the tip on growing celery! You can chop your celery and saute it for recipes, then freeze. I can never have enough celery! I make a lot of soup, and without celery – it’s not soup.
irishgypsy says:
Super! Celery is so yummy, yet often so expensive, and it’s seeds take forever to germate and then most of the year to grow up! I’m planting the 2 I have in the fridge and gong to start a small patch dedicated to regrowing them.
I’ve dried the leaves and chopped and frozen them but never thought of canning except in a soup until I read it here; can’t wait to try.juptau says:
How often do you water the celery/how moist do you keep the soil? I just planted 2 today… fingers crossed! (I live in AZ so no worries about a freeze)
Sheryl - Runningtrails says:
I would keep it constantly slightly moist until it grow roots and has new growth at the top.
debicom says:
I was so interested in this that I tried it immediately. My celery sprouted just as promised.
Not only does it work with celery, but I just succeeded in doing the same thing with Romaine lettuce! I can’t wait to get the little kitchen bed ready for these new-found creations!
Thank you!CherShots says:
My mom has done this before and I think it’s time I join in! Thanks for the reminder 🙂
‘hugs from afar’Puglover says:
I tried this last year and it worked really well. I planted mine in the garden and with such a mild winter it wintered over!
Maureen says:
thanks for the comment about the lettuce! We purchased some small romaine & another crispy lettuce plant, however I told my husband (who said he is harvesting them soon) that we didnt get to enjoy the “growth” of them, just a little something I enjoy. anyway, now I know I can replant it afterwards just like the celery, which is already sprouting 2 plants!!!!
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