Celery 135 



means of celery plows, implements with very high mold- 

 boards that throw a great quantity of earth against the 

 plant (Fig. 61). If celery is to be blanched by the bank- 

 ing process, the rows are rarely less than 3i/^ feet apart, 

 and if the tall-growing varieties are used, the rows are 

 often put at 5 or even 6 feet. Double rows, 6 inches apart 

 and the plants about 6 inches in the row, lend themselves 

 well to earth banking, the space between these pairs of rows 

 being 4 to 6 feet. In this case, of course, about twice the 

 number of plants is required as in the single-row planting. 

 The late or green (not self -blanching) varieties are grown 

 for earth-banking. 



Blanching by means of close planting was formerly 

 known as the " new celery culture." This consists in grow- 

 ing the plants so close that the light is excluded and the 

 plants blanch themselves. Plants are usually grown as 

 close as 6 to 10 inches either way. It will be seen that 

 this system can be used only when the soil is very rich 

 and when there is abundant supply of moisture. When- 

 ever the water-table is close to the surface or when one can 

 practice irrigation, it may be considered. It is usually 

 successful in small home gardens where one can use a hose. 

 The self-blanching varieties are usually grown in the close- 

 planting method. 



Blanching in storage is the usual practice with late 

 winter celery. If it is thoroughly blanched before putting 

 in storage, it will not keep well. It is usually advisable, 

 however, to " handle " the crop at least once in the field in 

 order to induce a straight upright growth and to begin 

 the blanching process. Thereafter the plants are set in 

 pits or sheds so close together that the blanching proceeds. 



