18 Colorado Experiment Station 
row. Sometimes, double rows, 6 inches apart, with 6 feet between 
the double rows, are planted. This method gives a greater num¬ 
ber of plants per acre than the single row method where there is 
a distance of 5 feet between the rows. Another method used quite 
extensively with the early crop is to blanch the celery with boards 
about 12 inches wide and 16 to 20 feet in-length. When this plan 
is followed, the rows are made 3 feet apart, and the plants set 6 
inches apart in the row. Heavy paper is sometimes used instead 
of boards. With proper care this will last two or three seasons 
and is more easily handled than boards. 
In addition to the above methods, celery may be blanched by 
wrapping the individual plants in old newspapers or by setting 
pieces of tile around them. In fact, anjqhing which keeps out 
the light will serve the purpose. 
Cultivation .—Frequent surface cultivation should be the rule 
with celery. The plant needs abundant moisture and everything 
possible should be done to retain moisture in the soil. In irrigat¬ 
ing, a thorough wetting should be given and then water should be 
withheld until it is needed again. The grower must always keep 
in mind, however, that the plant requires a large amount of water. 
Celery plants must never be allowed to become checked if 
possible to prevent it, as checking injures the quality and is apt 
to cause the plants to run to seed. 
Blanching .—The methods of blanching celery have already 
been outlined. When the crop is blanched by means of boards, 
20,000 to 30,000 feet of lumber are required for blanching an acre. 
If all the celery is not needed at one time, the same boards can 
be used for blanching two or three lots, so that less than the above 
will be required per acre. The time for blanching is from ten to 
thirty days. The early crop usually requires less time than the 
late crop. The plants should not be allowed to stay in the field 
after blanching, as the quality is injured thereby. 
When the crop is blanched with earth it is almost always of 
better flavor than when other methods are employed. The bank¬ 
ing up of the soil around the plants may be done by hand or a 
celery “hiller” may be used. This is a plow having large mold- 
boards which banks the soil against the plants. Before it is used, 
a small amount of soil must be placed around the base of the 
plants to hold them in an upright and compact position. When 
celery is to be kept in storage for some time it is not necessary 
to blanch it in the field. If stored in a dark cellar, blanching will 
take place there. Sometimes the blanching is begun in the field 
by banking the soil partly up around the plants and the process 
is completed in storage. 
