CELERY PLANTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 January 1939, Page 9

CELERY PLANTS

SOME TIMELY HINTS

By this time the celery plants, pricked off as advised earlier, will be quite sturdy. Lift them from their bed with as large a ball of soil as possible on the roots. If any sign of a blister made by the celery fly is seen at planting time, the injured portions should be removed. It is a wise plan to spray the plants with nicotine a day or so after planting. In any case, the formula should be a quarter ounce of nicotine, quarter pound of soft soap in 2£ gallons of water. After planting give the trench a thorough soaking of water. The following day, hoe between the plants to retain the moisture given. Further waterings will be necessary from time

to time during the growing season, alternated with waterings with liquid manure.

In addition to controlling celery fly by means of nicotine, it is advisable to keep a look out for any signs of the leaf blight and spray with Bordeaux mixture. Both nicotine and Bordeaux should be used to prevent rather than cure these troubles to which celery plants arc particularly subject. The suckers which appear from the base of the plants during summer are of no use, and should be removed. Celery is always crisp and has a better flavour if the plants are sprayed over with clear water every day, late in the afternoon, during hot weather.