Growing Celery

I am pleased to report that the celery that I started from seed is growing quite happily in the little bed next to the chicken pen.  I started these seeds in late Febuary/early March and they grew very well before I planted them out.

Here they are just after they sprouted.

 

One month later and they have several true leaves.

 

They were planted in the garden around the same day that I planted out my broccoli and brussel sprouts.  However, they survived the cold temps like champions (They were totally covered by the straw mulch also - that might have something to do with it).  Today they are growing like mad and I may be able to harvest some of the bigger stalks soon.

 

Whatever isn't used to eat fresh will be frozen or dehydrated and saved for making chicken stocks and other home made soups.  It isn't something that we use a ton of, so I hope these seven plants produce enough for the rest of the year.  I like to harvest a few stalks at a time so I don't kill the plant and it keeps making more for me to use throughout the season.